Rhode Island prevailing wage rates

What is the prevailing wage rate in Rhode Island?

It depends on the trade. Taking each trade's main rate in each county, DLT's figures run from $25.27 an hour (carpet and soft floor layer, Bristol County) to $102.96 (elevator constructor, Bristol County). Each figure is the base wage plus fringe benefits. 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.

• Boilermaker$79.44
• Bricklayer$76.00
• Carpenter$78.38
• Carpet & Soft Floor Layer$25.27
• Cement Mason$73.85
• Diver & Tender$91.33
• Dredger$45.01
• Drywall Finisher$64.62
• Electrician$80.85
• Elevator Constructor$102.96
• Flagger$53.85
• Glazier$67.78
• Insulation Applicator$29.21
• Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker)$86.54
• Ironworker$76.56
• Laborer$63.90
• Marble Finisher$68.39
• Marble Mason$76.88
• Millwright$77.22
• Operating Engineer$80.52
• Painter$66.17
• Pile Driver$70.88
• Plasterer$74.95
• Plumber / Pipefitter$88.84
• Roofer$78.93
• Sheet Metal Worker$86.36
• Teamster (Truck Driver)$66.37
• Telecommunications Technician$61.80
• Tunnel Worker$79.55

How Rhode Island's prevailing wage rules work

• Rhode Island adopts the federal rates. "Contractors must use the applicable Davis-Bacon Wage Determination published on the U.S. System for Award Management (SAM) website" (DLT; RIGL 37-13-8). Every Rhode Island rate here is a SAM.gov figure.
• Which schedule. Building, Heavy & Highway covers all five counties; residential has one decision for Newport and one for the other four counties; dredging has its own (RI20260001).
• Which projects. Public works of any kind over $1,000 using state or municipal funds, including quasi-public agencies (RIGL 37-13-7).
• Locked at award, re-rated every July 1. Rates are set at award, but contractors must check with DLT before July 1 each year and adjust (RIGL 37-13-8). That differs from federal Davis-Bacon.
• Overtime. Over 8 hours a day or 40 a week, at 1½ times the base, with the full fringe added (RIGL 37-13-10; DLT FAQ).
• Health and retirement must be bought. The fringe must be paid in full, and healthcare and retirement can't be paid as cash in lieu (RIGL 37-13-7(b)).
• Minimum retirement contribution. From November 17, 2026, DLT sets a minimum hourly amount per classification that must buy retirement benefits; it's part of the fringe, not on top (DLT retirement schedule).
• Payroll. Pay weekly, post the scale on site, and submit certified weekly payrolls monthly. Projects of $100,000 or more need OSHA-10 for every on-site worker (DLT).