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Harris County, TX · Carpenter
Carpenter prevailing wage in Harris County, Texas
$43.00an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$33.27 base wage + $9.73 fringe benefits
CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) · CARP0551-008
$13.47an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$12.06 base wage + $1.41 fringe benefits
CARPENTER (INCLUDES BATT/BLOWN INSULATION, FORMWORK & OVERHEAD DOOR INSTALLATION · SUTX2005-030
$19.32an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$19.32 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
FORM SETTER, PAVING & CURB · SATX2025-013
$15.01an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$13.84 base wage + $1.17 fringe benefits
FORMBUILDER/FORMSETTER · SUTX2005-019
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Harris County, a carpenter must be paid at least $43.00 an hour: a $33.27 base wage plus $9.73 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260253 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $43.00 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260253, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier CARP0551-008 (April 1, 2025). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Harris County, a carpenter must be paid at least $13.47 an hour: a $12.06 base wage plus $1.41 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260067 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $13.47 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260067, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUTX2005-030 (December 15, 2005). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Harris County, a carpenter must be paid at least $19.32 an hour: a $19.32 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260299 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $19.32 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260299, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SATX2025-013 (November 15, 2023). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Harris County, a carpenter must be paid at least $15.01 an hour: a $13.84 base wage plus $1.17 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260031 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $15.01 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260031, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUTX2005-019 (October 1, 1988). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Texas public bodies set their own rates, often the Davis-Bacon ones; check the bid documents. Under Gov't Code 2258.022 each body either surveys local wages or adopts the Davis-Bacon rates, and no state agency publishes a schedule.
DOL lists 17 carpenter rates for Harris County, from $12.77 to $43.00 an hour. See all of them.
City of Houston contracts use Houston's 2026 wage scales, which copy these Davis-Bacon rates; they are listed with each trade, marked City of Houston. Harris County posts the same SAM.gov determinations with its own contractor minimum wage of $21.65 an hour.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $33.27 + $9.73
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) | $33.27 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $9.73 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $43.00 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $12.06 + $1.41
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) | $12.06 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.41 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $13.47 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $19.32 + $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) | $19.32 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.32 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $13.84 + $1.17
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) | $13.84 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.17 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $15.01 |
When does this rate change?
- 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)).
- DOL changes a WD by publishing a numbered modification on SAM.gov. This page reads the modification named in the Source line; the Texas change log lists what each one changed.
Every carpenter rate in Harris County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)Building · CARP0551-008$43.00
- Carpenter (excludes acoustical ceiling installation, drywall hanging, form work and metal stud installation)City of Houston: Building · City of Houston$43.00
- FORM BUILDER/SETTER, STRUCTURESHighway · SATX2025-013$19.93
- Form Builder/Setter, StructuresCity of Houston: Engineering · City of Houston$19.93
- Form Builder/Setter, StructuresCity of Houston: Highway · City of Houston$19.93
- FORM SETTER, PAVING & CURBHighway · SATX2025-013$19.32
- Form Setter, Paving & CurbCity of Houston: Engineering · City of Houston$19.32
- Form Setter, Paving & CurbCity of Houston: Highway · City of Houston$19.32
- CarpenterTexas A&M System: Building · Texas A&M System$17.13
- Formwork BuilderTexas A&M System: Building · Texas A&M System$16.20
- FORMBUILDER/FORMSETTERHeavy · SUTX2005-019$15.01
- Formbuilder/FormsetterCity of Houston: Heavy · City of Houston$15.01
- CARPENTERHeavy · SUTX2005-019$14.04
- CarpenterCity of Houston: Heavy · City of Houston$14.04
- CARPENTER (INCLUDES BATT/BLOWN INSULATION, FORMWORK & OVERHEAD DOOR INSTALLATIONResidential · SUTX2005-030$13.47
- FORM WORKERBuilding · SUTX2014-029$12.77
- Form workerCity of Houston: Building · City of Houston$12.77
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION)BuildingCARP0551-008 | $33.27 | $9.73 | $43.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| FORM WORKERBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $12.77 | $0.00 | $12.77 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| FORM SETTER, PAVING & CURBHighwaySATX2025-013 | $19.32 | $0.00 | $19.32 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| FORM BUILDER/SETTER, STRUCTURESHighwaySATX2025-013 | $19.93 | $0.00 | $19.93 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| FORMBUILDER/FORMSETTERHeavySUTX2005-019 | $13.84 | $1.17 | $15.01 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| CARPENTERHeavySUTX2005-019 | $14.04 | $0.00 | $14.04 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| CARPENTER (INCLUDES BATT/BLOWN INSULATION, FORMWORK & OVERHEAD DOOR INSTALLATIONResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $12.06 | $1.41 | $13.47 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| CarpenterTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | incl. | incl. | $17.13 | TAMUS-2024-10-14-harris |
| Formwork BuilderTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | incl. | incl. | $16.20 | TAMUS-2024-10-14-harris |
| Form Builder/Setter, StructuresCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $19.93 | $0.00 | $19.93 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Form Setter, Paving & CurbCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $19.32 | $0.00 | $19.32 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Carpenter (excludes acoustical ceiling installation, drywall hanging, form work and metal stud installation)City of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $33.27 | $9.73 | $43.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Form workerCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $12.77 | $0.00 | $12.77 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| CarpenterCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $14.04 | $0.00 | $14.04 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Formbuilder/FormsetterCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $13.84 | $1.17 | $15.01 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Form Builder/Setter, StructuresCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $19.93 | $0.00 | $19.93 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Form Setter, Paving & CurbCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $19.32 | $0.00 | $19.32 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
How Harris County compares
The main carpenter rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Texas
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Harris Countybase $33.27$43.00
- Montgomery Countybase $18.81$20.91
- Fort Bend Countybase $33.27$43.00
- Waller Countybase $33.27$43.00
Carpenter 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.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Harris County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | |
| Fort Bend County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | same |
| Waller County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION,DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | same |
| Liberty County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, BATT INSULATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | same |
| Galveston County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | same |
| Brazoria County | CARPENTER (EXCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION) | $33.27 | $43.00 | same |
| Montgomery County | CARPENTER, EXCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, BATT INSULATION, DRYWALL HANGING, FORM WORK, AND METAL STUD INSTALLATION | $18.81 | $20.91 | −$22.09 |
More from DOL on this rate
- DOL wage determination
- SAM.gov wage determinations
- Davis-Bacon determinations list journeyworker rates. Apprentices in a program registered with DOL or a recognized state agency can be paid the program's percentage of the rate, within its ratio; anyone else gets the full rate (29 CFR 5.5(a)(4)).
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 TX20260253 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/TX20260253/1
We read every active Texas 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. The Texas A&M University System, City of Houston and City of Austin rows are copied from those bodies' own schedules, with their source on each row. How we check · Download Harris County as CSV · Report an error