Home / New Jersey / Union County
Prevailing wage rates in Union County, New Jersey
NJDOL's NJDOL county packages of October 19, 2026 sets 443 rates across 38 trades for public works in Union County. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $135.39 an hour and dredge worker the lowest at $65.74, total.
NJDOL county packages of October 19, 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's posted rates are informational. The public body obtains the project's official determination, and it goes in the contract.
Union County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits NJDOL lists. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Elevator Constructor$135.39
- Diver & Tender$121.46
- Sheet Metal Worker$115.82
- Electrician$112.56
- Tunnel Worker$112.07
- Plumber / Pipefitter$111.59
- Pile Driver$109.72
- Utility Lineman$107.49
- Marble Mason$107.14
- Terrazzo Worker$106.71
- Ironworker$106.61
- Heat & Frost Insulator$106.10
- Water Well Driller$104.42
- Operating Engineer$104.08
- Pipeline Construction Worker$100.84
- Field Surveyor$96.83
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$96.79
- Millwright$96.09
- Boilermaker$94.42
- Carpenter$93.77
- Soft Floor Layer$93.69
- Sign Installer$93.34
- Bricklayer$90.03
- Marble Finisher$89.65
- Glazier$88.72
- Test Boring Driller$87.63
- Tile Setter$85.25
- Hauling Driver$85.10
- Paperhanger$84.84
- Refrigeration Mechanic$81.70
- Roofer$81.36
- Telecom Technician$81.01
- Painter$80.16
- Drywall Finisher$78.52
- Laborer$75.82
- Striping & Traffic Control$70.76
- Abatement Laborer$70.49
- Dredger$65.74
All trades and classifications, A to Z
One main rate per trade, with its classification and base wage. Open a trade for its other classifications, dated steps and NJDOL's notes. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Total | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer · Bergen County group | Laborer - Asbestos & Hazardous Waste Removal: Journeyman (Handler) | $70.49 | $42.77 | 2 |
| Boilermaker · Bergen County group | Boilermaker: Journeyman | $94.42 | $49.11 | 6 |
| Bricklayer · Bergen County group | Bricklayer, Stone Mason: Journeyman | $90.03 | $49.60 | 4 |
| Carpenter · Bergen County group | Carpenter: Journeyman | $93.77 | $58.52 | 3 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer · Bergen County group | Carpenter - Resilient Flooring: Journeyman | $93.69 | $58.52 | 2 |
| Diver & Tender · Bergen County group | Diver | $121.46 | $66.97 | 2 |
| Dredger · Bergen County group | OPERATING ENGINEERS MARINE-DREDGING: Lead Dredgerman, Operator, Leverman | $65.74 | $49.94 | 13 |
| Drywall Finisher · Bergen County group | Drywall Finisher: Journeyman | $78.52 | $46.03 | 3 |
| Electrical Utility Lineman · Union County group | ELECTRICIAN- UTILITY WORK (NORTH): Journeyman Lineman | $107.49 | $63.23 | 38 |
| Electrician · Union County group | Electrician: Journeyman | $112.56 | $67.92 | 9 |
| Elevator Constructor · Bergen County group | Elevator Constructor: Journeyman | $135.39 | $86.43 | 2 |
| Field Surveyor · Bergen County group | OPERATING ENGINEERS: Field Engineer - Transit man or Instrument man | $96.83 | $54.38 | 6 |
| Glazier · Bergen County group | Glazier: Journeyman | $88.72 | $53.93 | 4 |
| Hauling Driver (On/Off Site) · Essex County group | Truck Driver-Material Delivery Driver: Driver | $85.10 | $37.82 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Bergen County group | Heat & Frost Insulator: Journeyman | $106.10 | $62.74 | 3 |
| Ironworker · Bergen County group | Ironworker: Structural Journeyman | $106.61 | $53.44 | 4 |
| Laborer · Bergen County group | Laborer - Building: Class A Journeyman | $75.82 | $40.97 | 22 |
| Marble Finisher · Bergen County group | Tile Finisher-Marble: Finisher | $89.65 | $51.04 | 1 |
| Marble Mason · Bergen County group | Tile Setter - Marble: Tile Setter | $107.14 | $65.61 | 1 |
| Millwright · Bergen County group | Millwright: Journeyman | $96.09 | $59.94 | 2 |
| Operating Engineer · Bergen County group | OPERATING ENGINEERS: Backhoe (combination) | $104.08 | $61.63 | 225 |
| Painter · Bergen County group | Commercial Painter: Journeyman | $80.16 | $46.75 | 12 |
| Paperhanger · Bergen County group | Paperhanger: Journeyman | $84.84 | $51.43 | 3 |
| Pile Driver · Bergen County group | Dockbuilder/Pile Driver: Journeyman | $109.72 | $55.23 | 4 |
| Pipeline Construction Worker · Bergen County group | PIPELINE - MAINLINE TRANSMISSION: Pipeline Journeyman Welder | $100.84 | $60.89 | 6 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter · Essex County group | Plumber: Journeyman | $111.59 | $64.19 | 8 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · Bergen County group | Air Conditioning & Refrigeration - Service and Repair: Journeyman (Mechanic) | $81.70 | $48.73 | 1 |
| Roofer · Middlesex County group | Roofer: Journeyman | $81.36 | $47.12 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker · Bergen County group | Sheet Metal Worker: Journeyman | $115.82 | $62.59 | 3 |
| Sign Installer · Bergen County group | Sheet Metal Sign Installation: Journeyman | $93.34 | $45.60 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Bergen County group | Painter - Line Striping: Journeyman 1 (at least 1 year of working exp. as a journeyman) | $70.76 | $41.35 | 5 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) · Essex County group | Truck Driver: Low Boy Driver | $96.79 | $49.51 | 10 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Union County group | Electrician - Teledata (15 Voice/Data Lines & Less): Journeyman Technician (1-2 Workers on Job) | $81.01 | $48.88 | 6 |
| Terrazzo Worker · Bergen County group | Tile Setter - Mosaic & Terrazzo: Mechanic | $106.71 | $62.82 | 3 |
| Test Boring Driller · Bergen County group | TEST BORING PRELIMINARY TO CONSTRUCTION-NORTH: Driller | $87.63 | $49.78 | 3 |
| Tile Setter · Bergen County group | Tile Setter - Ceramic: Finisher | $85.25 | $50.74 | 2 |
| Tunnel Worker · Bergen County group | FREE AIR TUNNEL JOBS: Blaster | $112.07 | $71.44 | 18 |
| Water Well Driller · Bergen County group | DRILL FOR GROUND WATER SUPPLY: Driller | $104.42 | $61.97 | 2 |
Davis-Bacon wage determinations for Union County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's rates. Where both Davis-Bacon and the New Jersey Act apply, "whichever rate is higher must be paid" (NJDOL FAQ). Each trade's page shows its federal rate next to NJDOL's.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | NJ20260044 | 2 | August 13, 2026 |
| Residential | NJ20260022 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | NJ20260002 | 2 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | NJ20260065 | 2 | May 20, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Union County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: NJ20260003 (All dredging, except self propelled hopper dredging, on the Atlantic Coast and tributary w).
Questions about Union County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Union County?
$112.56 an hour: a $67.92 base wage plus $44.64 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (Electrician: Journeyman), under NJDOL county packages of October 19, 2026. Overtime and every electrician rate in Union County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Union County?
$75.82 an hour: a $40.97 base wage plus $34.85 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (Laborer - Building: Class A Journeyman), under NJDOL county packages of October 19, 2026. Overtime and every laborer rate in Union County.
Does the prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. The rate is a base wage plus fringe benefits, and the employer owes both for every hour. For elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in Union County, the $135.39 total is a $86.43 base wage plus $48.96 in fringe benefits.
Do Davis-Bacon rates apply in Union County?
On federally funded or assisted construction, yes: NJ20260044 (modification 2, August 13, 2026) for building construction, NJ20260022 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, NJ20260002 (modification 2, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and NJ20260065 (modification 2, May 20, 2026) for heavy construction. Where both Davis-Bacon and the New Jersey Act apply, "whichever rate is higher must be paid" (NJDOL FAQ).
Does Union County share its rates with other counties?
For 38 of its 38 trades, yes: NJDOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Electrician rates, for example, are the same in 7 counties (the Union County group).