New York prevailing wage rates

What is the prevailing wage rate in New York?

It depends on the trade and on the county where the work is done. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, NYSDOL's figures run from $28.16 an hour (flagger, Albany County) to $154.71 (ironworker, Bronx County). Each figure is the base wage plus supplements. Pick a county or a trade below for the exact rate.

Rates by trade

Each trade page maps that trade's main rate in every county. Carpenter rates, for example, range from $57.76 to $114.80 an hour.

• Asbestos & Lead Abatement Laborer$43.86–$88.40
• Boilermaker$71.09–$120.81
• Brick Tender$77.19
• Bricklayer$62.52–$107.89
• Carpenter$57.76–$114.80
• Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$57.76–$110.88
• Cement Mason$50.30–$94.68
• Diver & Tender$89.13–$135.30
• Dredger$53.69
• Drywall Finisher$53.77–$92.48
• Drywall Installer / Lather$57.76–$104.96
• Electrical Utility Lineman$83.62–$97.81
• Electrician$49.20–$134.28
• Elevator Constructor$102.85–$135.39
• Fence Builder$70.54–$117.49
• Field Surveyor$78.24–$118.00
• Flagger$28.16–$75.01
• Glazier$62.74–$111.03
• Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$64.87–$111.02
• Ironworker$71.14–$154.71
• Laborer$51.45–$103.63
• Landscape Maintenance Laborer$54.74–$104.37
• Line Clearance Tree Trimmer$43.28–$54.74
• Machinery Mover$71.14–$78.92
• Marble Finisher$81.50
• Marble Mason$105.92–$106.99
• Millwright$68.04–$122.01
• Operating Engineer$50.19–$131.26
• Painter$56.95–$92.48
• Pile Driver$68.83–$120.43
• Plaster Tender$77.19
• Plasterer$49.85–$90.30
• Plumber / Pipefitter$76.06–$124.45
• Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic$71.81–$83.29
• Roofer$57.20–$101.61
• Sheet Metal Worker$62.03–$124.62
• Shipbuilding & Ship Repair Worker$36.10
• Sign Installer$79.14
• Striping & Traffic Control Worker$61.88–$68.77
• Teamster (Truck Driver)$35.31–$108.27
• Telecommunications Technician$49.20–$123.82
• Telephone Line Worker (Outside)$48.21–$80.80
• Terrazzo Finisher$78.88–$104.74
• Terrazzo Worker$105.29–$106.36
• Tile Finisher$48.73–$86.46
• Tile Setter$58.96–$105.47
• Tuckpointer$62.52–$101.09
• Tunnel Worker$66.94–$141.65
• Utility Locator$39.46

How New York's prevailing wage rules work

• Which projects. Public work where a public agency is party to a contract employing laborers, workers or mechanics, plus private "covered projects" over $5 million with at least 30% public funds (NYSDOL FAQ; Labor Law §224-a).
• Wages and supplements. Pay at least the prevailing wage plus supplements (health, retirement, vacation and similar), as benefits or cash. The prevailing rate is the union rate covering at least 30% of the trade's workers in the locality (Labor Law §220).
• NYC vs the rest of the state. NYC agency projects use the NYC Comptroller's §220 schedule; State and other non-City projects in the five boroughs use NYSDOL's county schedules (§220(5)(e); NYC Comptroller).
• Annual, with monthly corrections paid back to July 1. Each year's determination runs July 1 to June 30. NYSDOL posts corrections on the first business day of each month, and contractors pay them "retroactive to July 1" (NYSDOL).
• Not locked at bid. Schedules print future effective dates, and contractors must pay the rate in effect when the work is done (Article 8 schedules).
• General and residential. Schedules are issued separately for general and residential construction. Residential rates have limited applicability; ask NYSDOL before using them.
• Overtime. Over 8 hours a day or 5 days a week is overtime at the area's prevailing premium; each trade's rules are codes in the schedule (§220(2)).
• Get the project's own schedule. Posted schedules are informational; an original schedule must be requested for each project (PRC number) and goes into the specifications (Obtain a PRC number).