Prevailing wage rates · Massachusetts · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Essex County, Massachusetts
Highway construction · MA20260018 modification 1, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 24 classifications for highway work in Essex County, Massachusetts. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $43.44 an hour (traffic control: flagger) to $103.25 (electrician). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
Rates by classification
Total is the basic rate plus the fringe. Source is the agreement or survey the rate came from; a marker means the group changed in this modification. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARP0339-004 · Carpenters agreement, September 1, 2025 | ||||
| CARPENTER (INCLUDES FORM WORK) | $50.10 | $31.45 | $81.55 | Agreement |
| ELEC0103-007 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, September 1, 2025 | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $66.17 | $37.08 | $103.25 | Agreement |
| ENGI0004-025 · Operating Engineers agreement, June 1, 2025 | ||||
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 2 BULLDOZER; GRADER/BLADE; MILLING MACHINE; ROLLER FOOTNOTE: FOR POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: A. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, LABOR DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, PATRIOT'S DAY, COLUMBUS DAY, VETERAN'S DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY | $57.18 | $33.70 | $90.88 | Agreement |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 1 BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE; BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER; BROOM/SWEEPER; GRADALL; LOADER; PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE); POST DRIVER (GUARDRAIL/FENCES) FOOTNOTE: FOR POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: A. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, LABOR DAY, MEMORIAL DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, PATRIOT'S DAY, COLUMBUS DAY, VETERAN'S DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY, CHRISTMAS DAY | $57.83 | $33.70 | $91.53 | Agreement |
| IRON0007-026 · Ironworkers agreement, September 16, 2025 | ||||
| IRONWORKER: ORNAMENTAL AND STRUCTURAL | $57.87 | $37.67 | $95.54 | Agreement |
| LABO0022-016 · Laborers agreement, December 1, 2024 | ||||
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $38.95 | $29.70 | $68.65 | Agreement |
| LABORER (LANDSCAPE) | $38.95 | $29.70 | $68.65 | Agreement |
| LABORER (ASPHALT, INCLUDES RAKER, SHOVELER, SPREADER, AND DISTRIBUTOR) | $38.95 | $29.70 | $68.65 | Agreement |
| LABO0039-001 · Laborers agreement, June 1, 2021 | ||||
| LABORER: GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION | $35.00 | $25.94 | $60.94 | Agreement |
| PAIN0035-023 · Painters and Allied Trades agreement, July 1, 2024 | ||||
| PAINTER: STEEL | $56.76 | $36.00 | $92.76 | Agreement |
| SUMA2014-008 · Survey of contractors in MA, January 11, 2017 | ||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: FLATBED TRUCK | $48.53 | $0.00 | $48.53 | Survey |
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $38.92 | $9.73 | $48.65 | Survey |
| TRUCK DRIVER: CONCRETE TRUCK | $33.69 | $15.79 | $49.48 | Survey |
| TRAFFIC CONTROL: LABORER-CONES/ BARRICADES/BARRELS - SETTER/MOVER/SWEEPER | $44.49 | $12.41 | $56.90 | Survey |
| TRAFFIC CONTROL: FLAGGER | $23.00 | $20.44 | $43.44 | Survey |
| PILEDRIVERMAN | $45.65 | $23.33 | $68.98 | Survey |
| PAINTER: SPRAY (LINESTRIPING) | $41.14 | $15.50 | $56.64 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: PILEDRIVER | $44.46 | $16.94 | $61.40 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: MECHANIC | $48.14 | $17.02 | $65.16 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFT | $64.67 | $0.00 | $64.67 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: CRANE | $52.14 | $21.08 | $73.22 | Survey |
| LABORER: CONCRETE SAW (HAND HELD/WALK BEHIND) | $41.78 | $18.37 | $60.15 | Survey |
| IRONWORKER, REINFORCING | $49.94 | $22.45 | $72.39 | Survey |
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $56.70 | $21.08 | $77.78 | Survey |
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 MA20260018?
- 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