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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Charleston County, South Carolina
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov cover Charleston County, with 65 rates for 18 trades; the newest modification is dated October 22, 2026. The rate depends on the kind of construction: building, residential, highway or heavy.
Charleston County prevailing wage by trade, A to Z
| Trade | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brick TenderLABORER: MASON TENDER-BRICK/CONCRETE/CEMENT/STONE | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
BricklayerBRICKLAYER | $18.00 | $0.00 | $18.00 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
CarpenterCARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY) · 5 rates | $14.09 | $2.22 | $16.31 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
CarpenterCARPENTER · 5 rates | $16.02 | $0.91 | $16.93 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
CarpenterCARPENTER, FORM WORK ONLY (CHARLESTON) · 5 rates | $19.32 | $0.00 | $19.32 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
CarpenterCARPENTER, INCLUDES FORM WORK · 5 rates | $14.85 | $0.00 | $14.85 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
Carpet & Soft Floor LayerFLOOR LAYER: SOFT FLOORS | $14.73 | $0.00 | $14.73 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Cement MasonCEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER · 3 rates | $14.77 | $0.00 | $14.77 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
Cement MasonCEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER · 3 rates | $14.69 | $0.00 | $14.69 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Cement MasonCEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER (CHARLESTON) · 3 rates | $21.18 | $0.00 | $21.18 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
Drywall Installer / LatherCARPENTER (DRYWALL HANGING ONLY) | $16.32 | $1.50 | $17.82 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
ElectricianELECTRICIAN · 2 rates | $15.86 | $0.00 | $15.86 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
ElectricianELECTRICIAN · 2 rates | $16.55 | $0.00 | $16.55 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
FlaggerLABORER, TRAFFIC CONTROL-FLAGGER | $16.36 | $0.00 | $16.36 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
IronworkerIRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL · 3 rates | $29.75 | $18.00 | $47.75 | Jul 1, 2025 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
IronworkerIRONWORKER, REINFORCING · 3 rates | $22.69 | $0.00 | $22.69 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
IronworkerIRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL · 3 rates | $29.75 | $18.00 | $47.75 | Jul 1, 2025 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
LaborerLABORER: PIPELAYER · 10 rates | $14.69 | $2.08 | $16.77 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
LaborerLABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL · 10 rates | $12.89 | $0.00 | $12.89 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
LaborerLABORER: PIPELAYER · 10 rates | $20.67 | $0.00 | $20.67 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
LaborerLABORER: PIPELAYER · 10 rates | $12.55 | $1.82 | $14.37 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
Landscape & Irrigation LaborerLABORER: LANDSCAPE | $9.45 | $0.49 | $9.94 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
Operating EngineerOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · 22 rates | $19.62 | $3.54 | $23.16 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
Operating EngineerOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · 22 rates | $18.85 | $0.00 | $18.85 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Operating EngineerPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE (CHARLESTON) · 22 rates | $23.79 | $0.00 | $23.79 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
Operating EngineerOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · 22 rates | $15.54 | $2.20 | $17.74 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
PainterPAINTER: BRUSH, ROLLER AND SPRAY · 2 rates | $12.74 | $0.00 | $12.74 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
PainterPAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) · 2 rates | $13.49 | $0.00 | $13.49 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Plumber / PipefitterPLUMBER · 4 rates | $18.95 | $5.35 | $24.30 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
Plumber / PipefitterPLUMBER · 4 rates | $16.81 | $0.00 | $16.81 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Plumber / PipefitterPIPEFITTER · 4 rates | $36.00 | $14.19 | $50.19 | Jul 1, 2024 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
Refrigeration & A/C MechanicHVAC MECHANIC (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $19.24 | $2.69 | $21.93 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
RooferROOFER · 2 rates | $11.92 | $0.00 | $11.92 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
RooferROOFER · 2 rates | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
Striping & Traffic Control WorkerLABORER, TRAFFIC CONTROL-CONE SETTER (BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, DORECHESTER) | $19.50 | $0.00 | $19.50 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
Teamster (Truck Driver)TRUCK DRIVER · 4 rates | $14.21 | $3.24 | $17.45 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
Teamster (Truck Driver)TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK · 4 rates | $15.77 | $0.00 | $15.77 | Oct 22, 2026 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
Teamster (Truck Driver)TRUCK DRIVER · 4 rates | $15.65 | $2.79 | $18.44 | May 18, 2026 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
One rate per trade for the kind of construction picked above; open a trade for its other classifications and the WD's notes. DOL prints no total, so each total is base wage plus fringe benefits, added by us. The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest South Carolina modification we hold is dated October 22, 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). South Carolina has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
Which trades pay the most in Charleston County?
Ironworker, at $47.75 an hour. Each trade's main rate, as its page leads with it, highest first, split into the base wage and the fringe benefits DOL lists, on one scale.
- Ironworker$47.75
- Plumber / Pipefitter$24.30
- Operating Engineer$23.16
- Refrigeration Mechanic$21.93
- Striping & Traffic Control$19.50
- Bricklayer$18.00
- Drywall Installer / Lather$17.82
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$17.45
- Laborer$16.77
- Flagger$16.36
- Carpenter$16.31
- Electrician$15.86
- Cement Mason$14.77
- Soft Floor Layer$14.73
- Painter$12.74
- Roofer$11.92
- Brick Tender$11.00
- Landscape Laborer$9.94
Which wage determinations cover Charleston County?
The WD that applies depends on the kind of construction. Every rate on this site names its WD and modification.
| Construction | Wage determination | Modification | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building | SC20260023 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | SC20260059 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | SC20260034 Non-collectively bargained prevailing wage and fringe benefits rates within this general wage determination we | 2 | October 22, 2026 |
| Heavy | SC20260041 Excludes Dredging | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Charleston County for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: SC20260004 (Dredging).
Questions about Charleston County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Charleston County?
$15.86 an hour: a $15.86 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination SC20260023, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Charleston County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Charleston County?
$16.77 an hour: a $14.69 base wage plus $2.08 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: PIPELAYER), under wage determination SC20260023, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Charleston 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 Charleston County, the $47.75 total is a $29.75 base wage plus $18.00 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Charleston County?
It depends on the kind of construction: SC20260023 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, SC20260059 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, SC20260034 (modification 2, October 22, 2026) for highway construction and SC20260041 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Charleston County share its rates with other counties?
For 2 of its 18 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Flagger rates, for example, are the same in 4 counties (the Charleston County group). The other 16 are Charleston County's own.