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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Smith County, Tennessee
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Smith County for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 78 rates across 22 trades. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $91.25 an hour and flagger the lowest at $8.73, base plus fringe.
The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest Tennessee 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.
Tennessee sets its own rates for state highway work only; elsewhere Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage. The Prevailing Wage Commission's 25 statewide highway rates are wages with no fringe, on the state highway rates page (T.C.A. 12-4-401 ff.).
Smith 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.
- Elevator Constructor$91.25
- Plumber / Pipefitter$65.65
- Heat & Frost Insulator$56.99
- Ironworker$52.39
- Sheet Metal Worker$51.36
- Electrician$30.53
- Operating Engineer$24.50
- Cement Mason$22.79
- Carpenter$20.06
- Bricklayer$20.00
- Tile Setter$19.65
- Refrigeration Mechanic$18.79
- Drywall Installer / Lather$18.32
- Glazier$17.11
- Roofer$17.00
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$15.28
- Painter$14.30
- Tile Finisher$14.00
- Brick Tender$13.54
- Laborer$12.49
- Landscape Laborer$10.30
- Flagger$8.73
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 · Robertson County group | LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $13.54 | $13.54 | 1 |
| Bricklayer · Robertson County group | BRICKLAYER | $20.00 | $20.00 | 3 |
| Carpenter · Robertson County group | CARPENTER, EXCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING | $20.06 | $19.68 | 3 |
| Cement Mason · Robertson County group | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $22.79 | $22.79 | 3 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather · Robertson County group | CARPENTER (DRYWALL HANGING ONLY) | $18.32 | $18.32 | 1 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN | $30.53 | $22.53 | 4 |
| Elevator Constructor · Robertson County group | ELEVATOR MECHANIC PAID HOLIDAYS: A. NEW YEAR'S DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, VETERAN'S DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS DAY. B. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTES 8% OF REGULAR HOURLY RATE TO VACATION PAY CREDIT FOR EMPLOYEE WHO HAS WORKED IN BUSINESS MORE THAN 5 YEARS; 6% FOR LESS THAN 5 YEARS' SERVICE | $91.25 | $52.81 | 1 |
| Flagger · Davidson County group | LABORER: FLAGGER | $8.73 | $8.73 | 1 |
| Glazier · Robertson County group | GLAZIER | $17.11 | $16.00 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) · Robertson County group | ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $56.99 | $38.17 | 1 |
| Ironworker · Robertson County group | IRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL | $52.39 | $35.32 | 5 |
| Laborer | LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $12.49 | $12.49 | 13 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer · Williamson County group | LABORER: LANDSCAPE | $10.30 | $10.00 | 1 |
| Operating Engineer | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 | 22 |
| Painter · Robertson County group | PAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) | $14.30 | $14.30 | 2 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter · Robertson County group | PLUMBER | $65.65 | $46.02 | 4 |
| Refrigeration & A/C Mechanic · Robertson County group | HVAC MECHANIC (INSTALLATION OF HVAC UNIT ONLY) | $18.79 | $18.00 | 1 |
| Roofer · Robertson County group | ROOFER | $17.00 | $17.00 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker · Robertson County group | SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $51.36 | $35.37 | 2 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $15.28 | $15.28 | 5 |
| Tile Finisher · Robertson County group | TILE FINISHER | $14.00 | $14.00 | 1 |
| Tile Setter · Robertson County group | TILE SETTER | $19.65 | $19.65 | 1 |
Wage determinations for Smith 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 | TN20260204 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | TN20260025 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | TN20260147 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Heavy | TN20260142 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Questions about Smith County rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Smith County?
$30.53 an hour: a $22.53 base wage plus $8.00 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination TN20260204, modification 1. Overtime and every electrician rate in Smith County.
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Smith County?
$12.49 an hour: a $12.49 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL), under wage determination TN20260204, modification 1. Overtime and every laborer rate in Smith 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 elevator constructor, the highest-paid trade in Smith County, the $91.25 total is a $52.81 base wage plus $38.44 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Smith County?
It depends on the kind of construction: TN20260204 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for building construction, TN20260025 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, TN20260147 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for highway construction and TN20260142 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Smith County share its rates with other counties?
For 18 of its 22 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Carpenter rates, for example, are the same in 2 counties (the Robertson County group). The other 4 are Smith County's own.