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Davis-Bacon prevailing wage rates in Portsmouth (independent city), Virginia
4 Davis-Bacon wage determinations cover Portsmouth (independent city) for building, residential, highway and heavy construction, with 106 rates across 26 trades. Of each trade's main rate, elevator constructor is the highest at $90.50 an hour and landscape and irrigation laborer the lowest at $11.70, base plus fringe.
The Department of Labor modifies these determinations on SAM.gov in weekly batches through the year; the latest Virginia modification we hold is dated October 15, 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.
Virginia's prevailing wage for state-funded public works over $250,000, and for localities that adopt it by ordinance, uses these same rates: DOLI's wage determinations "are based on" the Davis-Bacon ones, with no project-specific determinations (Va. Code 2.2-4321.3; DOLI). Only DOLI's official copy sent to the contracting agency counts for official purposes.
Portsmouth (independent city) 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$90.50
- Boilermaker$66.36
- Heat & Frost Insulator$60.94
- Operating Engineer$58.04
- Plumber / Pipefitter$55.17
- Electrician$50.98
- Ironworker$49.28
- Tile Setter$38.05
- Pile Driver$25.91
- Glazier$24.04
- Tile Finisher$23.40
- Sheet Metal Worker$22.04
- Roofer$20.71
- Caulker$19.82
- Bricklayer$18.89
- Cement Mason$17.48
- Soft Floor Layer$17.42
- Carpenter$17.00
- Painter$16.87
- Brick Tender$16.75
- Teamster (Truck Driver)$16.25
- Laborer$16.08
- Drywall Finisher$14.00
- Drywall Installer / Lather$13.79
- Striping & Traffic Control$12.89
- Landscape Laborer$11.70
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boilermaker | BOILERMAKER | $66.36 | $38.97 | 2 |
| Brick Tender | LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $16.75 | $13.48 | 2 |
| Bricklayer | BRICKLAYER | $18.89 | $18.89 | 1 |
| Carpenter | CARPENTER, INCLUDES ACOUSTICAL CEILING INSTALLATION, DRYWALL HANGING, AND FORM WORK | $17.00 | $17.00 | 4 |
| Carpet & Soft Floor Layer | FLOOR LAYER: CARPET | $17.42 | $17.42 | 1 |
| Caulker | CAULKER | $19.82 | $18.49 | 1 |
| Cement Mason | CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $17.48 | $17.48 | 4 |
| Drywall Finisher | DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER | $14.00 | $14.00 | 1 |
| Drywall Installer / Lather | DRYWALL HANGER AND METAL STUD INSTALLER | $13.79 | $13.79 | 1 |
| Electrician | ELECTRICIAN: INCLUDES LOW VOLTAGE WIRING AND ALARM INSTALLATION. A. WORKMEN SHALL TAKE OFF 1 HOUR WITH PAY, AT THE DISCRETION OF THE EMPLOYER, ON STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTION DAYS; TUESDAY FOLLOWING THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER, PROVIDED THEY ARE QUALIFIED AND VOTE | $50.98 | $36.85 | 4 |
| Elevator Constructor | ELEVATOR MECHANIC A. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, VETERANS' DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING DAY AND CHRISTMAS DAY. B. VACATIONS: 6% MEN UNDER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE AND 8% MEN OVER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED | $90.50 | $52.06 | 2 |
| Glazier | GLAZIER | $24.04 | $19.36 | 1 |
| Insulator (Heat & Frost / Asbestos Worker) | ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR - MECHANICAL (DUCT, PIPE & MECHANICAL SYSTEM INSULATION) A. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, VETERANS' DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY,THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS DAY PROVIDED THE EMPLOYEE WORKS THE REGULAR WORK DAY BEFORE AND AFTER THE PAID HOLIDAY | $60.94 | $40.77 | 1 |
| Ironworker | IRONWORKER: STRUCTURAL AND ORNAMENTAL | $49.28 | $31.00 | 8 |
| Laborer | LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETE | $16.08 | $12.96 | 12 |
| Landscape & Irrigation Laborer | LABORER: LANDSCAPE | $11.70 | $11.70 | 1 |
| Operating Engineer | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $58.04 | $39.99 | 36 |
| Painter | PAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) | $16.87 | $16.87 | 3 |
| Pile Driver · Virginia Beach (independent city) group | OPERATOR: PILEDRIVER | $25.91 | $21.83 | 1 |
| Plumber / Pipefitter | PLUMBER | $55.17 | $36.92 | 5 |
| Roofer | ROOFER | $20.71 | $18.40 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | SHEET METAL WORKER, INCLUDES HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION | $22.04 | $19.24 | 2 |
| Striping & Traffic Control Worker · Virginia Beach (independent city) group | TRAFFIC CONTROL: FLAGGER | $12.89 | $12.89 | 1 |
| Teamster (Truck Driver) | TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $16.25 | $15.50 | 8 |
| Tile Finisher | TILE FINISHER | $23.40 | $23.40 | 1 |
| Tile Setter | TILE SETTER | $38.05 | $27.80 | 1 |
Wage determinations for Portsmouth (independent city)
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 | VA20260161 | 2 | May 18, 2026 |
| Residential | VA20260142 | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
| Highway | VA20260195 * Designates Independent City | 3 | August 13, 2026 |
| Heavy | VA20260209 * Designates Independent City | 1 | May 18, 2026 |
Specialty WDs also cover Portsmouth (independent city) for narrow kinds of work, and don't stand in for the rates above: VA20260001 (Dredging / * Designates Independent City).
Questions about Portsmouth (independent city) rates
How much does an electrician make on prevailing wage in Portsmouth (independent city)?
$50.98 an hour: a $36.85 base wage plus $14.13 in fringe benefits, for the main classification, under wage determination VA20260161, modification 2. Overtime and every electrician rate in Portsmouth (independent city).
What is the prevailing wage for a laborer in Portsmouth (independent city)?
$16.08 an hour: a $12.96 base wage plus $3.12 in fringe benefits, for the main classification (LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETE), under wage determination VA20260161, modification 2. Overtime and every laborer rate in Portsmouth (independent city).
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 Portsmouth (independent city), the $90.50 total is a $52.06 base wage plus $38.44 in fringe benefits.
Which Davis-Bacon wage determination covers Portsmouth (independent city)?
It depends on the kind of construction: VA20260161 (modification 2, May 18, 2026) for building construction, VA20260142 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for residential construction, VA20260195 (modification 3, August 13, 2026) for highway construction and VA20260209 (modification 1, May 18, 2026) for heavy construction. Your contract names the one that applies.
Does Portsmouth (independent city) share its rates with other counties?
For 2 of its 26 trades, yes: DOL sets the same rates, row for row, in other counties too. Striping and traffic control worker rates, for example, are the same in 13 counties (the Virginia Beach (independent city) group). The other 24 are Portsmouth (independent city)'s own.