Prevailing wage rates · North Carolina · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Alexander, Buncombe, Burke and 5 more counties, North Carolina
Highway construction · NC20260087 modification 1, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 47 classifications for highway work in Alexander, Buncombe, Burke and 5 more counties, North Carolina. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $10.00 an hour (power equipment operator (asphalt broom tractor)) to $21.41 (electrician (electrician)). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
What changed this year
First published January 2, 2026, this sheet is now on modification 1, and its rates have changed in 1 modification.
Latest change
May 18, 2026 · modification 1
7 fringe formulas changed
- Power equipment operator: 5 fringe formulas changed
- Laborer: 2 fringe formulas changed
Every line that changed (7)
| Classification | Was | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (TACK TRUCK/DISTRIBUTOR OPERATOR) | $14.81 + .02 | $14.81 + $0.02 | changed |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER OTHER) | $12.51 + .03 | $12.51 + $0.03 | changed |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT FINISH) | $16.08 + .07 | $16.08 + $0.07 | changed |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT BREAKDOWN) | $15.00 + .08 | $15.00 + $0.08 | changed |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER ASPHALT) | $17.84 + .08 | $17.84 + $0.08 | changed |
| LABORER (TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHTING INSTALLER) | $15.33 + .22 | $15.33 + $0.22 | changed |
| LABORER (ASPHALT SCREED/JACKMAN) | $15.38 + .08 | $15.38 + $0.08 | changed |
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 | Since Jan 2 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUNC2014-002 · Survey of contractors in NC, November 13, 2014 | |||||
| TRUCK DRIVER (GVWR OF 26,000 OR LESS) | $12.48 | $0.00 | $12.48 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| TRUCK DRIVER (GVWR OF 26,000 LBS OR GREATER) | $13.65 | $0.00 | $13.65 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINE | $15.08 | $0.00 | $15.08 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANIC | $17.86 | $0.00 | $17.86 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (TACK TRUCK/DISTRIBUTOR OPERATOR) | $14.81 | $0.02 | $14.83 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SLIP FORM MACHINE) | $20.38 | $0.00 | $20.38 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER ROUGH) | $13.83 | $0.00 | $13.83 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER FINISH) | $12.86 | $0.00 | $12.86 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER OTHER) | $12.51 | $0.03 | $12.54 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT FINISH) | $16.08 | $0.07 | $16.15 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT BREAKDOWN) | $15.00 | $0.08 | $15.08 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER CONCRETE) | $18.20 | $0.00 | $18.20 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER ASPHALT) | $17.84 | $0.08 | $17.92 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVEMENT MARKING EQUIPMENT) | $11.99 | $0.00 | $11.99 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER/GREASER) | $15.05 | $0.00 | $15.05 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OFF-ROAD HAULER/WATER TANKER) | $11.95 | $0.00 | $11.95 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLE (SHUTTLE BUGGY)) | $15.44 | $0.00 | $15.44 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER GREATER THAN 2 CUBIC YARDS) | $17.91 | $0.00 | $17.91 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER 2 CUBIC YARDS OR LESS) | $12.38 | $0.00 | $12.38 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE ROUGH) | $15.12 | $0.00 | $15.12 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE FINE) | $19.86 | $0.00 | $19.86 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR ROUGH) | $14.67 | $0.00 | $14.67 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR FINE) | $16.02 | $0.00 | $16.02 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR STRUCTURE) | $21.07 | $0.00 | $21.07 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR ROCK) | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE ROUGH/ALL-TERRAIN) | $19.19 | $0.00 | $19.19 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE OTHER) | $18.69 | $0.00 | $18.69 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE BOOM TRUCKS) | $18.19 | $0.00 | $18.19 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CONCRETE GRINDER/GROOVER) | $19.20 | $0.00 | $19.20 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER ROUGH) | $14.51 | $0.00 | $14.51 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER FINE) | $16.28 | $0.00 | $16.28 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ASPHALT BROOM TRACTOR) | $10.00 | $0.00 | $10.00 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| PAINTER (BRIDGE) | $20.67 | $0.00 | $20.67 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER: PIPELAYER | $12.87 | $0.00 | $12.87 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $11.90 | $0.00 | $11.90 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (TRAFFIC SIGNAL/LIGHTING INSTALLER) | $15.33 | $0.22 | $15.55 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (GUARDRAIL/FENCE INSTALLER) | $13.09 | $0.00 | $13.09 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER TENDER) | $11.04 | $0.00 | $11.04 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (CARPENTER TENDER) | $10.50 | $0.00 | $10.50 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (ASPHALT SCREED/JACKMAN) | $15.38 | $0.08 | $15.46 | changed | Survey, 2014 |
| LABORER (ASPHALT RAKER AND SPREADER) | $11.76 | $0.00 | $11.76 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| IRONWORKER | $12.48 | $0.00 | $12.48 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| ELECTRICIAN (TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNICIAN) | $14.67 | $1.67 | $16.34 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| ELECTRICIAN (ELECTRICIAN) | $18.79 | $2.62 | $21.41 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $14.40 | $0.00 | $14.40 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| CARPENTER | $13.48 | $0.00 | $13.48 | no change | Survey, 2014 |
| BLASTER | $20.93 | $0.00 | $20.93 | no change | 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 NC20260087?
- 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
- 47 classifications in 1 rate groups
- 0 from agreements, 1 from surveys
- Counties: Alexander, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Haywood, Henderson, Madison