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Wake County, NC · Laborer

Laborer prevailing wage in Wake County, North Carolina

Which kind of construction is the job?

The kind of construction decides the rate: each wage determination covers one. Residential covers homes and apartments up to four stories.

$16.74an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)

$14.67 base wage + $2.07 fringe benefits

LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL · SUNC2018-011

$10.85an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)

$10.85 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits

LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL · SUNC2016-029

$10.20an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)

$10.20 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits

LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL · SUNC2014-005

$12.74an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)

$9.84 base wage + $2.90 fringe benefits

LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL · SUNC2011-056

On federally funded or assisted building construction in Wake County, a laborer must be paid at least $16.74 an hour: a $14.67 base wage plus $2.07 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260011 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $16.74 is our sum of the two.

Wage determination NC20260011, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUNC2018-011 (August 8, 2023). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.

On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Wake County, a laborer must be paid at least $10.85 an hour: a $10.85 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260120 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $10.85 is our sum of the two.

Wage determination NC20260120, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUNC2016-029 (February 22, 2019). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.

On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Wake County, a laborer must be paid at least $10.20 an hour: a $10.20 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260090 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $10.20 is our sum of the two.

Wage determination NC20260090, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUNC2014-005 (November 17, 2014). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.

On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Wake County, a laborer must be paid at least $12.74 an hour: a $9.84 base wage plus $2.90 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260075 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $12.74 is our sum of the two.

Wage determination NC20260075, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUNC2011-056 (August 26, 2011). 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).

DOL lists 16 laborer rates for Wake County, from $10.20 to $21.04 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $14.67 + $2.07

The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL 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)$14.67
Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized)$2.07
Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total)$16.74

Base wage and fringe benefits: $10.85 + $0.00

The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL 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)$10.85
Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total)$10.85

Base wage and fringe benefits: $10.20 + $0.00

The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL 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)$10.20
Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total)$10.20

Base wage and fringe benefits: $9.84 + $2.90

The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL 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)$9.84
Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized)$2.90
Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total)$12.74

When does this rate change?

Every laborer rate in Wake County

As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.

  1. BLASTERHighway · SUNC2014-005$21.04
  2. LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALBuilding · SUNC2018-011$16.74
  3. LABORER: PIPELAYERHeavy · SUNC2011-056$15.61
  4. LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETEBuilding · SUNC2018-011$15.26
  5. LABORER: PIPELAYERBuilding · SUNC2018-011$15.00
  6. LABORER (TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHTING INSTALLER)Highway · SUNC2014-005$14.89
  7. LABORER (ASPHALT SCREED/JACKMAN)Highway · SUNC2014-005$14.33
  8. LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETEResidential · SUNC2016-029$13.49
  9. LABORER (CARPENTER TENDER)Highway · SUNC2014-005$12.88
  10. LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALHeavy · SUNC2011-056$12.74
  11. LABORER (CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER TENDER)Highway · SUNC2014-005$12.54
  12. LABORER (ASPHALT RAKER AND SPREADER)Highway · SUNC2014-005$12.46
  13. LABORER: PIPELAYERResidential · SUNC2016-029$12.37
  14. LABORER: PIPELAYERHighway · SUNC2014-005$12.17
  15. LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALResidential · SUNC2016-029$10.85
  16. LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALHighway · SUNC2014-005$10.20
Hourly rate of each laborer classification in Wake County, highest first, split into wage and fringe benefits.
ClassificationBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateWD
LABORER: PIPELAYERBuildingSUNC2018-011$15.00 $0.00 $15.00 NC20260011 Mod 1
LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETEBuildingSUNC2018-011$15.26 $0.00 $15.26 NC20260011 Mod 1
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALBuildingSUNC2018-011$14.67 $2.07 $16.74 NC20260011 Mod 1
LABORER: PIPELAYERHighwaySUNC2014-005$12.17 $0.00 $12.17 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALHighwaySUNC2014-005$10.20 $0.00 $10.20 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER (TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHTING INSTALLER)HighwaySUNC2014-005$14.89 $0.00 $14.89 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER (CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER TENDER)HighwaySUNC2014-005$12.54 $0.00 $12.54 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER (CARPENTER TENDER)HighwaySUNC2014-005$12.88 $0.00 $12.88 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER (ASPHALT SCREED/JACKMAN)HighwaySUNC2014-005$14.33 $0.00 $14.33 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER (ASPHALT RAKER AND SPREADER)HighwaySUNC2014-005$12.46 $0.00 $12.46 NC20260090 Mod 1
BLASTERHighwaySUNC2014-005$21.04 $0.00 $21.04 NC20260090 Mod 1
LABORER: PIPELAYERHeavySUNC2011-056$13.05 $2.56 $15.61 NC20260075 Mod 1
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALHeavySUNC2011-056$9.84 $2.90 $12.74 NC20260075 Mod 1
LABORER: PIPELAYERResidentialSUNC2016-029$11.79 $0.58 $12.37 NC20260120 Mod 1
LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETEResidentialSUNC2016-029$13.49 $0.00 $13.49 NC20260120 Mod 1
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERALResidentialSUNC2016-029$10.85 $0.00 $10.85 NC20260120 Mod 1

How Wake County compares

The main laborer rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.

Every county in North Carolina

$10.20Greene$21.79Iredell
WakeNearby: Durham $11.72, Johnston $16.91, Franklin $16.91Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 10 counties pay more than Wake, 0 the same, 89 less.

Wage and fringe benefits, nearby

  1. Wake Countybase $14.67$16.74
  2. Durham Countybase $11.72$11.72
  3. Johnston Countybase $14.78$16.91
  4. Franklin Countybase $14.78$16.91

Laborer rates in nearby counties

Current DOL rates. Davis-Bacon rates are set for groups of counties, so neighbours often share them; the county where the work is done decides.

CountyClassificationBase wageTotal ratevs Wake County
Johnston CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$14.78 $16.91 +$0.17
Franklin CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$14.78 $16.91 +$0.17
Wake CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$14.67 $16.74 
Orange CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$12.68 $15.74 −$1.00
Chatham CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$12.68 $15.74 −$1.00
Harnett CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$10.53 $11.92 −$4.82
Durham CountyLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$11.72 $11.72 −$5.02

North Carolina laborer prevailing wage by county, with a map

More from DOL on this rate

All Wake County prevailing wage rates

Are you being paid this rate?

Add your base pay to the fringe your employer pays for you, in cash or into plans, and compare the sum with the total. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints: 1-866-487-9243, or dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints.

Source

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (DOL), wage determination NC20260011 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/NC20260011/1

We read every active North Carolina Davis-Bacon wage determination from SAM.gov's own data and check every number with a second, independent read of the same file. DOL prints no total; ours is base plus fringe. How we check · Download Wake County as CSV · Report an error