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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Orange County, North Carolina
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Orange County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 104 rates across 21 trades. Of each trade's main rate, ironworker is the highest at $47.75 an hour and drywall finisher 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).
Orange 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$47.75
- Electrician$44.43
- Sheet Metal Worker$32.94
- Plumber / Pipefitter$30.26
- Carpenter$23.37
- Roofer$22.64
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$19.65
- Operating Engineer$19.45
- Bricklayer$19.37
- Refrigeration Mechanic$19.06
- Cement Mason$17.86
- Painter$16.60
- Telecom Technician$16.44
- Landscape Laborer$15.81
- Laborer$15.74
- Glazier$15.57
- Brick Tender$13.52
- Fence Builder$13.22
- Striping & Traffic Control$12.05
- Drywall Installer / Lather$11.65
- Drywall Finisher$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 | LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $13.52 | $13.52 | 2 |
| Bricklayer | BRICKLAYER | $19.37 | $19.37 | 2 |
| Carpenter | CARPENTER | $23.37 | $19.74 | 4 |
| Cement Mason | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $17.86 | $17.86 | 3 |
| Drywall Finisher | DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER | $10.00 | $10.00 | 1 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather | DRYWALL HANGER | $11.65 | $11.65 | 1 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN | $44.43 | $31.07 | 4 |
| Fence Builder · Mecklenburg County group | LABORER (GUARDRAIL/FENCE INSTALLER) | $13.22 | $13.22 | 1 |
| Glazier | GLAZIER | $15.57 | $15.57 | 1 |
| Ironworker | IRONWORKER | $47.75 | $29.75 | 4 |
| Laborer | LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $15.74 | $12.68 | 16 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer | LABORER: LANDSCAPE | $15.81 | $14.25 | 1 |
| Operating Engineer | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.45 | $19.45 | 43 |
| Painter | PAINTER | $16.60 | $15.55 | 4 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | PLUMBER | $30.26 | $23.66 | 3 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic | HVAC MECHANIC (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $19.06 | $17.45 | 1 |
| Roofer | ROOFER | $22.64 | $18.26 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | SHEET METAL WORKER | $32.94 | $19.67 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Mecklenburg County group | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVEMENT MARKING EQUIPMENT) | $12.05 | $12.05 | 1 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $19.65 | $16.56 | 7 |
| Telecommunications Technician · Guilford County group | ELECTRICIAN (TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN) | $16.44 | $15.19 | 1 |
Wage determinations for Orange 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 | NC20260013 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | NC20260107 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | NC20260088 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | NC20260080 Excludes Dredging | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Orange County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: NC20260019 (Dredging).
Questions about Orange County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Orange County?
$44.43 an hour: a $31.07 base wage plus $13.36 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination NC20260013, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Orange County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Orange County?
$15.74 an hour: a $12.68 base wage plus $3.06 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL), under wage determination NC20260013, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Orange 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 Orange County, the $47.75 total is a $29.75 base wage plus $18.00 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Orange County?
It depends on the kind of construction: NC20260013 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, NC20260107 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, NC20260088 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and NC20260080 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Orange County share its rates with other counties?
For 3 of its 21 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Fence builder rates, for example, are the same in 17 counties (the Mecklenburg County group). The other 18 are Orange County's own.