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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in McDowell County, North Carolina
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover McDowell County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 82 rates across 19 trades. Of each trade's main rate, ironworker is the highest at $24.37 an hour and brick tender the lowest at $10.00, base plus fringe.
The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest North Carolina modification we hold is dated May 18, 2026. A contract keeps the wage determination in its bid documents. Modifications published before bid opening apply to it, though one published less than 10 days before can be left out if the agency finds there isn't time to tell bidders (29 CFR 1.6(c)). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). North Carolina has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
McDowell County rates by trade, highest first
Each trade's main rate, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits DOL lists. All bars share one scale. The table below lists the same rates A to Z with classifications.
- Ironworker$24.37
- Bricklayer$22.63
- Operating Engineer$20.01
- Refrigeration Mechanic$19.98
- Drywall Installer / Lather$19.90
- Plumber / Pipefitter$19.84
- Sheet Metal Worker$17.71
- Painter$16.64
- Electrician$15.77
- Carpenter$15.41
- Telecom Technician$15.13
- Roofer$14.35
- Cement Mason$14.02
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$13.86
- Fence Builder$13.43
- Striping & Traffic Control$13.33
- Laborer$12.17
- Landscape Laborer$12.11
- Brick Tender$10.00
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 DOL's notes. Click a column heading to sort.
| Trade | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brick Tender · Surry County group | LABORER: MASON TENDER-BRICK/CEMENT/CONCRETE | $10.00 | $10.00 | 1 |
| Bricklayer · Surry County group | BRICKLAYER | $22.63 | $18.45 | 1 |
| Carpenter · McDowell County group | CARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY) | $15.41 | $14.28 | 5 |
| Cement Mason · McDowell County group | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $14.02 | $14.02 | 4 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather · Surry County group | CARPENTER (DRYWALL HANGING ONLY) | $19.90 | $17.59 | 1 |
| Electrician · McDowell County group | ELECTRICIAN | $15.77 | $15.37 | 3 |
| Fence Builder · Cleveland County group | LABORER (GUARDRAIL/FENCE INSTALLER) | $13.43 | $13.43 | 1 |
| Ironworker · Surry County group | IRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL | $24.37 | $18.75 | 2 |
| Laborer · McDowell County group | LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $12.17 | $11.07 | 12 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer · Surry County group | LABORER: LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION | $12.11 | $10.29 | 1 |
| Operating Engineer · Surry County group | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.01 | $18.60 | 31 |
| Painter · McDowell County group | PAINTER: BRUSH, ROLLER AND SPRAY | $16.64 | $14.77 | 4 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter · McDowell County group | PLUMBER, EXCLUDES HVAC UNIT INSTALLATION | $19.84 | $17.51 | 3 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · McDowell County group | HVAC MECHANIC (INSTALLATION OF HVAC UNIT ONLY, EXCLUDES INSTALLATION OF HVAC PIPE AND DUCT) | $19.98 | $16.94 | 2 |
| Roofer · McDowell County group | ROOFER | $14.35 | $13.55 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker · Surry County group | SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $17.71 | $15.62 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Cleveland County group | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVEMENT MARKING EQUIPMENT) | $13.33 | $13.33 | 1 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) · Surry County group | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $13.86 | $12.50 | 5 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Cleveland County group | ELECTRICIAN (TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNICAN) | $15.13 | $15.13 | 1 |
Wage determinations for McDowell County
The WD that applies depends on the kind of construction. Every rate on this page names its WD and modification.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | NC20260061 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | NC20260094 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | NC20260086 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | NC20260068 Excludes Dredging | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover McDowell County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: NC20260019 (Dredging).
Questions about McDowell County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in McDowell County?
$15.77 an hour: a $15.37 base wage plus $0.40 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination NC20260061, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in McDowell County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in McDowell County?
$12.17 an hour: a $11.07 base wage plus $1.10 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL), under wage determination NC20260061, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in McDowell 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 ironworker, the highest-paid trade in McDowell County, the $24.37 total is a $18.75 base wage plus $5.62 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers McDowell County?
It depends on the kind of construction: NC20260061 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, NC20260094 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, NC20260086 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and NC20260068 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does McDowell County share its rates with other counties?
For 19 of its 19 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Electrician rates, for example, are the same in 10 counties (the McDowell County group).