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Prevailing Wage Rates for Electricians by State (2026)
ElectricianDB Editorial · Last updated 2026-09-30
Prevailing wage is the minimum base-plus-fringe package contractors must pay electricians on covered public-works projects — set federally by the Davis-Bacon Act and, in many states, by a parallel state program. Rates vary by county, trade classification, and construction type, so the right row matters. Every figure below traces to its source determination document.
51
States covered
3,789
Active determinations
6,689
Electrician rates tracked
2026-09-30
Last update
Highest median electrician rates
| State | Median total | Rates tracked |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $103.62/hour | 181 |
| Alaska | $85.77/hour | 14 |
| Hawaii | $85.68/hour | 8 |
| Connecticut | $84.53/hour | 41 |
| Washington | $84.06/hour | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $81.72/hour | 56 |
| New York | $80.40/hour | 1,219 |
| Rhode Island | $78.38/hour | 5 |
| Nevada | $77.38/hour | 250 |
| Minnesota | $76.74/hour | 131 |
Median of tracked electrician base + fringe totals per state. States without synced rate rows are excluded until their data lands.
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View rates →Prevailing wage FAQs
What is prevailing wage?
Prevailing wage is the minimum hourly rate (base pay plus fringe benefits) that contractors must pay laborers and mechanics on covered public-works projects. Rates are set per trade classification and locality, so an electrician rate in one county can differ sharply from the next county over.
Who must be paid prevailing wage?
Workers on federally funded or assisted construction over $2,000 fall under the Davis-Bacon Act. Many states add their own prevailing-wage laws covering state-funded public works, sometimes with different thresholds, classifications, and overtime rules.
How is Davis-Bacon different from state prevailing wage?
Davis-Bacon is the federal floor for federal projects, published as wage determinations on SAM.gov. State programs (sometimes called little Davis-Bacon acts) cover state-funded work and can set higher rates or additional requirements. When both apply, the contractor must pay the higher of the two for each classification.
What do base, fringe, and total mean in a wage determination?
Base is the cash hourly wage. Fringe is the hourly value of benefits such as health insurance, pension, and vacation. Total (base + fringe) is the full prevailing package — contractors who don't provide the benefits in kind generally must pay the fringe value in cash.
Why do electrician rates vary so much by county?
Rates reflect the locally prevailing union or surveyed rates for each classification, and locals negotiate different packages. Urban counties with strong inside-wireman locals typically publish higher totals than rural counties, and separate determinations often cover residential, building, heavy, and highway construction.
Do prevailing wage rates apply to private construction?
Generally no. Prevailing wage binds covered public-works contracts. Private work follows the agreed wage, the state minimum wage, and any applicable union agreement — but many shops use prevailing rates as a competitive benchmark for private bids.
How often do wage determinations change?
Federal general determinations are updated as the Department of Labor surveys and revises them, with modifications published on SAM.gov. State schedules typically refresh annually or on a fixed cycle, though some states update monthly. Each determination on this site shows its effective date.
Where does ElectricianDB get prevailing wage data?
Federal determinations come from the SAM.gov wage-determinations index; state schedules come from each state labor agency's published pages. Every rate row links back to its source document, and pages flag data that is stale or still being compiled.