Prevailing wage rates · Kentucky · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Kenton County, Kentucky
Heavy construction · KY20260073 modification 1, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 28 classifications for heavy work in Kenton County, Kentucky. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $23.78 an hour (truck driver: dump truck) to $63.40 (electrician). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
What changed this year
First published January 2, 2026, this sheet is now on modification 1, but none of its modifications has changed a rate.
Latest change
May 18, 2026 · modification 1
Classification names reworded; no change among the 21 lines we could match
SAM.gov reworded this sheet’s classification names in this modification, so not every line can be matched to the one before. Only lines matched with certainty are compared here; nothing is guessed. If your trade is not listed, compare it against your contract’s copy.
Compared line by line from each modification as published on SAM.gov. A line we could not pair with certainty is left out rather than guessed.
Rates by classification
These are the rates in modification 1 as published on SAM.gov. The determination and modification written into your contract are the ones that bind you; check that number before relying on this table. Total is the basic rate plus the fringe. Source is the agreement or survey the rate came from and its year; a survey year long past means the rate has not been surveyed since. A marker means the group changed in this modification. In the Since column, a dash means SAM.gov reworded the line during the year and it cannot be matched to the first publication with certainty. A dagger (†) means the fringe carries a footnote or percentage the total does not include; read the group’s notes.
| Classification | Basic rate | Fringe | Total | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASBE0008-007 · Asbestos Workers and Heat & Frost Insulators agreement, March 1, 2025 | ||||
| ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $35.23 | $23.04 | $58.27 | Agreement, 2025 |
| ELEC0369-008 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, May 27, 2025 | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $40.96 | $22.44 | $63.40 | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0018-016 · Operating Engineers agreement, May 1, 2024 | ||||
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $44.14 | $16.41 | $60.55 | Agreement, 2024 |
| ENGI0181-016 · Operating Engineers agreement, July 1, 2025 | ||||
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 DRILL; PUMPCRETE; ROLLER (BITUMINOUS) OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 Crane Forklift | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 CRANE; FORKLIFT OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOM 150 FEET AND OVER, INCLUDING JIB, SHALL RECEIVE $0.75 ABOVE GROUP 1. ALL CRANES WITH PILING LEADS WILL RECEIVE $0.50 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE REGARDLESS OF BOOM LENGTH. COMBINATION RATE SHALL MEAN $0.50 PER HOUR ABOVE THE BASIC HOURLY RATE OF PAY. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0181-019 · Operating Engineers agreement, July 1, 2025 | ||||
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 4…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 4 PUMP; ROLLER (EARTH) OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $38.37 | $19.60 | $57.97 | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 3…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 3 ARTICULATING TRUCK OPERATOR OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $39.14 | $19.60 | $58.74 | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 2…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 2 BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER; CONCRETE PUMP; ROLLER (ROCK) OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $38.69 | $19.60 | $58.29 | Agreement, 2025 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 Drill; Pumpcrete; Roller (Bituminous) | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 Drill Pumpcrete Roller | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 DRILL; PUMPCRETE; ROLLER (BITUMINOUS) OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 CRANE; FORKLIFT OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOM 150 FEET AND OVER, INCLUDING JIB, SHALL RECEIVE $0.75 ABOVE GROUP 1. ALL CRANES WITH PILING LEADS WILL RECEIVE $0.50 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE REGARDLESS OF BOOM LENGTH. COMBINATION RATE SHALL MEAN $0.50 PER HOUR ABOVE THE BASIC HOURLY RATE OF PAY. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $41.55 | $19.60 | $61.15 | Agreement, 2025 |
| IRON0044-005 · Ironworkers agreement, June 1, 2025 | ||||
| IRONWORKER (STRUCTURAL AND REINFORCING) | $37.77 | $23.90 | $61.67 | Agreement, 2025 |
| IRON0070-011 · Ironworkers agreement, June 1, 2025 | ||||
| IRONWORKER: ORNAMENTAL | $36.17 | $25.80 | $61.97 | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABO0189-016 · Laborers agreement, July 1, 2025 | ||||
| LABORER: TAMPER(HAND HELD/WALK BEHIND) | $27.12 | $19.66 | $46.78 | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABORER: CONCRETE WORKER & GRADE CHECKER | $26.87 | $19.66 | $46.53 | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABO0265-005 · Laborers agreement, May 1, 2024 | ||||
| LABORER: FLAGGER & LANDSCAPE | $35.52 | $14.45 | $49.97 | Agreement, 2024 |
| LABORER: CONCRETE SAW (HAND HELD/WALK BEHIND) & PIPELAYER | $35.69 | $14.45 | $50.14 | Agreement, 2024 |
| SUKY2011-029 · Survey of contractors in KY, June 25, 2014 | ||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $19.00 | $4.78 | $23.78 | Survey, 2014 |
| OPERATOR: TRENCHER | $26.27 | $12.37 | $38.64 | Survey, 2014 |
| OPERATOR: OILER | $24.34 | $13.00 | $37.34 | Survey, 2014 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANIC | $28.60 | $11.83 | $40.43 | Survey, 2014 |
| OPERATOR: LOADER | $29.37 | $10.13 | $39.50 | Survey, 2014 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZER | $28.04 | $13.00 | $41.04 | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER: CONCRETE FINISHING | $25.75 | $8.60 | $34.35 | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $25.27 | $8.34 | $33.61 | Survey, 2014 |
| CARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY) | $24.80 | $8.76 | $33.56 | Survey, 2014 |
Modification history
| Modification 0 | January 2, 2026 |
| Modification 1 | May 18, 2026 (current) |
Published by the Wage and Hour Division; read from sam.gov. The sheet is checked for a newer modification each day. Contracts awarded since January 1, 2017 also carry Executive Order 13706 paid sick leave (one hour per 30 worked, up to 56 a year).
Questions people ask
- Which rate do I pay on KY20260073?
- The line for the classification of work actually performed: the basic rate plus the fringe. You may pay the fringe into benefit plans, as cash on every hour, or a mix. Overtime after 40 hours is 1.5 times the basic rate; fringe is paid on every hour and never multiplied.
- My trade is not on this sheet. What do I do?
- Do not borrow the nearest name. Ask the contracting agency for a conformance on Standard Form 1444 before the first week of that work, and note it as pending on the payroll.
- Does modification 1 apply to my contract?
- Only if it was in force when your contract was awarded (generally at bid opening). An earlier modification locked into the contract keeps applying, except on option years, added scope and indefinite-quantity contracts. The number and modification are on the first page of the exhibit in your contract.
How to read a wage determination · Paying the fringe in cash or through plans · Overtime on these rates · Fringe credit calculator
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Start a payroll on this sheetOn this sheet
- 28 classifications in 10 rate groups
- 9 from agreements, 1 from surveys
- Counties: Kenton