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Bergen County, NJ · Painter
Painter prevailing wage in Bergen County, New Jersey
$80.16an hour, base wage + fringe benefits
$46.75 base wage + $33.41 fringe benefits
Bergen County uses the same painter rates as 20 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On New Jersey public works in Bergen County, a painter must be paid at least $80.16 an hour: a $46.75 base wage plus $33.41 in fringe benefits.
NJDOL county packages of October 19, 2026; this rate, effective May 8, 2026. Rates are those in effect when the contract is awarded, plus every pre-determined increase listed then, from its date (NJDOL FAQ). Checked against nj.gov on October 25, 2026.
NJDOL lists 12 painter rates for Bergen County, from $80.16 to $106.70 an hour. See all of them.
NJDOL's posted rates are informational. The public body obtains the project's official determination, and it goes in the contract.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $46.75 + $33.41
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. NJDOL prints the fringe benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $46.75 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $33.41 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $80.16 |
When does this rate change?
- The rates in effect on the date the contract is awarded apply, plus every pre-determined increase listed then, from its date. A later posting doesn't change an awarded job (NJDOL FAQ). Rates marked expired "remain in effect" until new ones are posted.
- NJDOL reissues a county's package whenever a union agreement changes. This page uses the packages of October 19, 2026 (NJDOL current rates).
Every painter rate in Bergen County
As NJDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Industrial Painter- Bridges: General Foreman$106.70
- Industrial Painter- Bridges: Foreman$104.20
- Industrial Painter- Bridges: Journeyman$99.20
- Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: General Foreman$93.79
- Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: General Foreman$93.09
- Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: Foreman$91.29
- Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: Foreman$90.59
- Commercial Painter: General Foreman$89.51
- Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: Journeyman$86.29
- Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: Journeyman$85.59
- Commercial Painter: Foreman$84.84
- Commercial Painter: Journeyman$80.16
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Painter: Foreman | $51.43 | $33.41 | $84.84 | May 8, 2026 |
| Commercial Painter: General Foreman | $56.10 | $33.41 | $89.51 | May 8, 2026 |
| Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $33.41 | $80.16 | May 8, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Bridges: Foreman | $65.07 | $39.13 | $104.20 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Bridges: General Foreman | $67.57 | $39.13 | $106.70 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Bridges: Journeyman | $60.07 | $39.13 | $99.20 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: Foreman | $53.81 | $36.78 | $90.59 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: General Foreman | $56.31 | $36.78 | $93.09 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Structural Steel: Journeyman | $48.81 | $36.78 | $85.59 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: Foreman | $54.86 | $36.43 | $91.29 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: General Foreman | $57.36 | $36.43 | $93.79 | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Industrial Painter- Water Tanks: Journeyman | $49.86 | $36.43 | $86.29 | Feb 20, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon painter rate in Bergen County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. Where both Davis-Bacon and the New Jersey Act apply, "whichever rate is higher must be paid" (NJDOL FAQ).
For building work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is PAINTER (BRUSH & ROLLER) at $75.41 ($45.55 base + $29.86 fringe), from NJ20260026 modification 1, published May 18, 2026, rate PAIN0711-019. Against NJDOL's $80.16: NJDOL's rate is $4.75 an hour higher. On a job covered by both, the higher rate applies.
For highway work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is PAINTERS: (ALL OTHER WORK) BRUSH AND ROLLER at $75.41 ($45.55 base + $29.86 fringe), from NJ20260002 modification 2, published May 18, 2026, rate PAIN0711-014. Against NJDOL's $80.16: NJDOL's rate is $4.75 an hour higher. On a job covered by both, the higher rate applies.
For heavy work, the matching Davis-Bacon classification is PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER (NEW CONSTRUCTION) at $62.91 ($40.19 base + $22.72 fringe), from NJ20260047 modification 2, published August 13, 2026, rate PAIN0711-024. Against NJDOL's $80.16: NJDOL's rate is $17.25 an hour higher. On a job covered by both, the higher rate applies.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | PAINTER (BRUSH & ROLLER)PAIN0711-019 | $45.55 | $75.41 | NJ20260026 Mod 1 |
| Building | PAINTER (SPRAY)PAIN0711-019 | $45.55 | $75.41 | NJ20260026 Mod 1 |
| Highway | PAINTERS: WORK ON BRIDGES (ALL BRIDGES THAT SPAN MAJOR WATERWAYS, RAILROAD BRIDGES, BRIDGES OVER CANYONS, OVERPASSES)PAIN0711-009 | $59.29 | $92.85 | NJ20260002 Mod 2 |
| Highway | PAINTERS: (ALL OTHER WORK) BRUSH AND ROLLERPAIN0711-014 | $45.55 | $75.41 | NJ20260002 Mod 2 |
| Highway | PAINTERS: (ALL OTHER WORK) SPRAYPAIN0711-014 | $45.55 | $75.41 | NJ20260002 Mod 2 |
| Heavy | PAINTER: WORK ON BRIDGES (MAJOR BRIDGES DESIGNED FOR COMMERCIAL NAVIGATION)PAIN0711-023 | $58.28 | $92.13 | NJ20260047 Mod 2 |
| Heavy | PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER (REPAINT WORK, ON PROJECTS ON WHICH NO MAJOR ALTERATIONS OCCUR.)PAIN0711-024 | $29.05 | $47.96 | NJ20260047 Mod 2 |
| Heavy | PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER (NEW CONSTRUCTION)PAIN0711-024 | $40.19 | $62.91 | NJ20260047 Mod 2 |
| Residential | PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLERSUNJ2004-044 | $33.85 | $44.20 | NJ20260006 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. New Jersey Davis-Bacon changes
How Bergen County compares
The main painter rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in New Jersey
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Bergen Countybase $46.75$80.16
- Passaic Countybase $46.75$80.16
- Essex Countybase $46.75$80.16
- Hudson Countybase $46.75$80.16
Painter rates in nearby counties
Current NJDOL rates. Rates "are generally set for each of the State's twenty-one (21) counties", and some crafts are statewide (NJDOL FAQ).
NJDOL's painter rates for Bergen County are the same as in 20 other counties: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson and 12 more.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Bergen County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bergen County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | |
| Passaic County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
| Essex County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
| Hudson County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
| Union County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
| Morris County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
| Sussex County | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $46.75 | $80.16 | same |
More from NJDOL on this rate
- NJDOL NJDOL county package, page 14
- NJDOL's current prevailing wage rates
- These are journeyman rates. Apprentices registered with the U.S. Office of Apprenticeship get the percentage in the craft's apprentice schedule, with full benefits unless noted.
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your wage to what your employer pays into benefits for you, or pays you in cash each payday, and compare it with the total. Rates for every craft, including future increases, must be posted on site, and certified payroll goes to NJDOL within 10 days of payday (N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.29). NJDOL Public Contracts: (609) 292-2259.
Source
Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL), NJDOL county package NJDOL-20261019-bergen, issued October 19, 2026, effective May 8, 2026, page 14: lwdwebpt.dol.state.nj.us/archivewages/292125119-bergen-10-19-2026.pdf
We read every county package of October 19, 2026, including its statewide pages, and check every number with a second, separate reader. Wage plus benefit equals NJDOL's printed total on every step that prints both. How we check · Download Bergen County as CSV · Report an error