Prevailing wage rates · New Jersey · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Mercer County, New Jersey
Residential construction · NJ20260014 modification 1, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 19 classifications for residential work in Mercer County, New Jersey. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $13.16 an hour (laborer: common or general) to $99.22 (power equipment operators). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
Scope
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (consisting of single family homes and apartments up to and including 4 stories)
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
Classification names reworded; 1 fringe formula changed among the 19 lines we could match
- Carpenter: 1 fringe formula changed
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.
Every line that changed (1)
| Classification | Was | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING) | $48.27 + 12%+$5.59 | $48.27 + $11.38 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRNJ0002-004 · Bricklayers agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
| BRICKLAYER | $49.60 | $37.96 | $87.56 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| BRNJ0004-002 · Bricklayers agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
| CEMENT MASON | $49.60 | $37.96 | $87.56 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| CARP0006-001 · Carpenters agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
| CARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING) | $48.27 | $11.38 | $59.65 | changed | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0825-006 · Operating Engineers agreement, July 1, 2025 | |||||
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (2) BACKHOE LOADER COMBO; FRONT END LOADER 2 YD < 5 CU YD; HYDRAULIC CRANE < 10 CU YD. PAID HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday observed, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Presidential Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; provided 1) that the worker works three of the preceding five work days before the holiday; or, the work day before the holiday and the work day after the holiday; and, 2) that the worker works the work day before and the work day after the holiday | $60.13 | $37.50 | $97.63 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (1) BACKHOE INCLUDING BACKHOE TRACK; CRANE; FRONT END LOADER 5 CU YD AND OVER . PAID HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday observed, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Presidential Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; provided 1) that the worker works three of the preceding five work days before the holiday; or, the work day before the holiday and the work day after the holiday; and, 2) that the worker works the work day before and the work day after the holiday | $61.72 | $37.50 | $99.22 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS…Full textPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (4) ROLLER INCLUDING SUBGRADE ROLLER; FRONT END LOADER < 1 CU YD. PAID HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday observed, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Presidential Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; provided 1) that the worker works three of the preceding five work days before the holiday; or, the work day before the holiday and the work day after the holiday; and, 2) that the worker works the work day before and the work day after the holiday | $56.59 | $37.50 | $94.09 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (3) BULLDOZER; ROLLER BLACKTOP; FRONT END LOADER 1 < 2 CU YD. PAID HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday observed, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Presidential Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day; provided 1) that the worker works three of the preceding five work days before the holiday; or, the work day before the holiday and the work day after the holiday; and, 2) that the worker works the work day before and the work day after the holiday | $58.22 | $37.50 | $95.72 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| IRON0399-015 · Ironworkers agreement, July 1, 2025 | |||||
| IRONWORKER: STRUCTURAL | $54.24 | $40.40 | $94.64 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| IRONWORKER: REINFORCING | $53.24 | $40.40 | $93.64 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABO0077-001 · Laborers agreement, July 1, 2012 | |||||
| LABORER: MASON TENDER: CEMENT/CONCRETE | $29.35 | $23.07 | $52.42 | no change | Agreement, 2012 |
| PAIN0711-006 · Painters and Allied Trades agreement, May 1, 2024 | |||||
| DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER | $43.41 | $29.86 | $73.27 | no change | Agreement, 2024 |
| PLUM0009-005 · Plumbers and Pipefitters agreement, July 1, 2025 | |||||
PLUMBER/PIPEFITTER…Full textPLUMBER/PIPEFITTER (MERCER COUNTY (south of a line drawn from the point at which Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) meets the Hunterdon/Mercer County line; then, south along Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) to the Borough of Hopewell, includes the Borough of Hopewell; then, east along the Reading Railroad to the Mercer/Somerset County line (Province Line Rd.)) | $34.25 | $21.31 | $55.56 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| PLUM0024-004 · Plumbers and Pipefitters agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
PLUMBER (MERCER COUNTY…Full textPLUMBER (MERCER COUNTY (north of a line drawn from the point at which Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) meets the Hunterdon/Mercer County line; then, south along Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) to the Borough of Hopewell, includes the Borough of Hopewell; then, east along the Reading Railroad to the Mercer/Somerset County line (Province Line Rd.) | $62.09 | $45.05 | $107.14 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| PLUM0475-004 · Plumbers and Pipefitters agreement, May 1, 2025 | |||||
PIPEFITTER (MERCER COUNTY…Full textPIPEFITTER (MERCER COUNTY (north of a line drawn from the point at which Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) meets the Hunterdon/Mercer County line; then, south along Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) to the Borough of Hopewell, includes the Borough of Hopewell; then, east along the Reading Railroad to the Mercer/Somerset County line (Province Line Rd.) | $56.37 | $50.80 | $107.17 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ROOF0030-019 · Roofers agreement, May 1, 2024 | |||||
| ROOFER (ALL TYPES) | $34.35 | $21.75 | $56.10 | no change | Agreement, 2024 |
| SUNJ2004-052 · Survey of contractors in NJ, January 2, 2009 | |||||
| PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER, EXCLUDES DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING | $20.53 | $0.00 | $20.53 | no change | Survey, 2009 |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $13.16 | $0.00 | $13.16 | no change | Survey, 2009 |
| OPERATOR: CONCRETE PUMP, TRUCK MOUNTED | $13.50 | $2.34 | $15.84 | no change | Survey, 2009 |
| ELECTRICIAN | $37.89 | $16.10 | $53.99 | no change | Survey, 2009 |
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 NJ20260014?
- 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
- 19 classifications in 12 rate groups
- 11 from agreements, 1 from surveys
- Counties: Mercer