Michigan · Laborer
Michigan laborer prevailing wage, county by county
A laborer's prevailing wage on Michigan public works runs from $38.88 an hour in Wexford County to $56.50 in Livingston County. The median county is $46.24.
Main laborer classification in each county, LEO county rates, November 2025 edition. The contracting agent gets LEO's rates before advertising and puts them in the specifications; if the contract isn't awarded or started within 90 days of LEO's determination, LEO must redetermine them (MCL 408.1103). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does a laborer make on prevailing wage in Michigan?
10 groups of counties with identical rates and 11 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.
- Wayne County group2 counties$56.50
- Livingston County1 county$56.50
- Macomb County1 county$56.50
- Monroe County1 county$54.58
- Washtenaw County1 county$50.32
- St. Clair County group4 counties$50.13
- Genesee County1 county$50.13
- Tuscola County group3 counties$48.27
- Gratiot County1 county$48.27
- Huron County1 county$48.27
- Saginaw County1 county$47.67
- Arenac County group6 counties$47.52
- Ionia County1 county$47.52
- Iosco County1 county$47.52
- Ingham County group3 counties$46.28
- Kalamazoo County group10 counties$46.24
- Kent County group10 counties$46.24
- Jackson County group3 counties$46.10
- Houghton County group15 counties$42.43
- Benzie County group16 counties$38.88
- Alcona County1 county$38.88
Which counties pay which rate
| Counties | Main classification | Total (fringes included) | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County group, 2 localities: Oakland, Wayne | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $56.50 | — |
| Livingston County | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $56.50 | — |
| Macomb County | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $56.50 | — |
| Monroe County | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $54.58 | — |
| Washtenaw County | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $50.32 | — |
| St. Clair County group, 4 localities: Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $50.13 | — |
| Genesee County | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $50.13 | — |
| Tuscola County group, 3 localities: Bay, Midland, Tuscola | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $48.27 | — |
| Gratiot County | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $48.27 | — |
| Huron County | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $48.27 | — |
| Saginaw County | Underground and Open Cut Laborer | $47.67 | — |
| Arenac County group, 6 localities: Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Isabella, Ogemaw, Roscommon | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $47.52 | — |
| Ionia County | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $47.52 | — |
| Iosco County | Laborer, Common - Highway & Heavy | $47.52 | — |
| Ingham County group, 3 localities: Clinton, Eaton, Ingham | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $46.28 | — |
| Kalamazoo County group, 10 localities: Allegan, Barry, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, St. Joseph, Van Buren | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $46.24 | — |
| Kent County group, 10 localities: Kent, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Ottawa | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $46.24 | — |
| Jackson County group, 3 localities: Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $46.10 | — |
| Houghton County group, 15 localities: Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $42.43 | — |
| Benzie County group, 16 localities: Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Wexford | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $38.88 | — |
| Alcona County | Laborer, Common - Commercial | $38.88 | — |
10 groups of counties with identical LEO rates, and 11 counties with rates of their own.
LEO prints apprentice levels (straight time, 1.5x, 2x) on each classification page; see apprentice_rates.
Questions about Michigan laborer pay
What is the laborer prevailing wage in Wayne County?
$56.50 an hour, fringe benefits included (one rate, no separate base wage), under LEO county rates, November 2025 edition. Overtime and every laborer classification in Wayne County.
Does laborer prevailing wage pay overtime in Michigan?
Standard overtime unless the classification says otherwise: 1.5× over 8 hours a day (unless four 10-hour days are allowed), over 40 a week and on Saturdays; 2× on Sundays and holidays. The figures are LEO's own (LEO).
Do apprentice laborers get this rate?
LEO prints apprentice levels (straight time, 1.5x, 2x) on each classification page; see apprentice_rates.
Why do some counties have the same laborer rate?
LEO often publishes the same laborer rates for several counties. Across Michigan, the 83 counties with a laborer rate fall into 21 distinct sets of rates, and 10 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 16 counties (the Benzie County group).
Which county pays laborers the most in Michigan?
Livingston County, at $56.50 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Wexford County at $38.88, and the median county is $46.24.