40 USC 3141-3148DOL WHD
Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage for Electricians 2026
Federal construction over $2,000 must pay county-specific prevailing wages. Look up rates at sam.gov.
Updated 27 June 2026. Source: 40 USC 3141-3148 (Davis-Bacon Act), US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD).
How to Look Up the Rate
- Visit sam.gov and click Wage Determinations
- Select Davis-Bacon Act (not Service Contract Act)
- Choose Construction Type: Building, Heavy, Highway, or Residential (most electrical work falls under Building or Heavy)
- Select State and County (e.g., District of Columbia for DC, Cook County for Chicago)
- The PDF will list Electrician with a Base Rate and Fringe Benefits amount
- Both Base Rate and Fringe must be paid in cash or as bona fide benefits
How the Determination Relates to the Union Scale
For Building Construction Electrician, the county determination tracks the local IBEW scale in union-strong markets and a weighted survey average elsewhere. The union figures below are verified from each Local's published wage sheet.
| Market | IBEW Local | Union scale (verified) | How the determination relates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York County, NY (Manhattan) | IBEW Local 3 | $64.00/hr base, $138.25/hr package | Determination tracks the Local 3 'A' rate scale (JIBEI prevailing-rate chart, eff. 15 Apr 2026). |
| Suffolk County, MA (Greater Boston) | IBEW Local 103 | $66.86/hr base, $112.61/hr package | Determination tracks the Local 103 inside wireman scale (Boston JATC memorandum, eff. 1 Mar 2026). |
| King County, WA (Seattle) | IBEW Local 46 | $74.94/hr base, $108.16/hr package | Determination tracks the Local 46 inside wire journey-level scale (ibew46.com wage sheet). |
| Right-to-work counties (e.g. Harris, TX; Mecklenburg, NC) | Low union density | No single union floor | Determination is a weighted survey average of union and non-union pay, typically well below the IBEW scale. Pull the exact county figure from sam.gov. |
The Davis-Bacon determination for your county may differ from the union package and changes with each SAM.gov revision. For the binding base rate and fringe amount, always pull the current determination directly from sam.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Davis-Bacon prevailing wage?
The Davis-Bacon Act of 1931 (40 USC 3141-3148) requires contractors and subcontractors performing work on federally funded construction contracts above $2,000 to pay at least the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits to mechanics and laborers. The US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division publishes wage determinations by county and trade classification. For Electrician (BLS 47-2111), determinations are based on surveys of wages actually paid in the area, and in union-strong markets typically align closely with the IBEW Local agreement.
How do I look up the Davis-Bacon rate for electricians in my area?
Visit sam.gov (System for Award Management) and use the Wage Determinations search. Filter by Construction Type (Building, Heavy, Highway, or Residential), State, and County. For Electrician, the classification is typically labeled 'Electrician' or 'Electrician (Inside Wireman)' in Building and Heavy schedules. The published determination shows the base hourly rate and fringe benefit amount separately. Both must be paid (cash or bona fide benefits) on covered federal projects in that county.
Does Davis-Bacon apply to private commercial construction?
No. Davis-Bacon applies only to construction contracts with federal funding above $2,000. Common covered projects include: military base construction (Army Corps of Engineers contracts), VA hospitals, federal courthouses and office buildings (GSA contracts), federal housing (HUD), Bureau of Reclamation dams, Federal Highway Administration projects, and any project receiving federal grants subject to Davis-Bacon-related Act coverage. Most states also have parallel state prevailing wage laws (Little Davis-Bacon Acts) covering state public works.
What is the difference between Davis-Bacon rate and IBEW scale?
In union-strong markets (Boston, NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, San Francisco), the Davis-Bacon rate for Electrician typically matches or closely tracks the IBEW Local agreement because the union scale is what is actually paid in the area, which is what the DOL survey finds. In right-to-work states with low union density (Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida), the Davis-Bacon rate is typically a weighted average that falls between union and non-union rates and may be substantially below the IBEW figure. Always look up the specific county determination for the rate that applies to your project.
Are state prevailing wages the same as Davis-Bacon?
No. State prevailing wage laws are separate, with different thresholds, coverage, and rate-setting methodology. Common state prevailing wage states include California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii. Some have higher coverage thresholds (Connecticut: $400,000 for new construction); others are lower. State rates are usually set by the state Department of Labor and may use the IBEW agreement as the prevailing rate where union density is high enough to meet the state's threshold for adoption.
Related Pages
Sources: Davis-Bacon Act (40 USC 3141-3148), 29 CFR Part 1 (DOL implementing regulations), US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/construction), System for Award Management (sam.gov) Wage Determinations.