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 18 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 $107.14 (plumber (mercer county). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.
Scope
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS (consisting of single family homes and apartments up to and including 4 stories)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRNJ0002-004 · Bricklayers agreement, May 1, 2025 | ||||
| BRICKLAYER | $49.60 | $37.96 | $87.56 | Agreement |
| BRNJ0004-002 · Bricklayers agreement, May 1, 2025 | ||||
| CEMENT MASON | $49.60 | $37.96 | $87.56 | Agreement |
| CARP0006-001 · Carpenters agreement, May 1, 2025 | ||||
| CARPENTER (INCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING) | $48.27 | $11.38 | $59.65 | Agreement |
| 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 | Agreement |
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 | Agreement |
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 | Agreement |
| 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 | Agreement |
| IRON0399-015 · Ironworkers agreement, July 1, 2025 | ||||
| IRONWORKER: STRUCTURAL | $54.24 | $40.40 | $94.64 | Agreement |
| IRONWORKER: REINFORCING | $53.24 | $40.40 | $93.64 | Agreement |
| LABO0077-001 · Laborers agreement, July 1, 2012 | ||||
| LABORER: MASON TENDER: CEMENT/CONCRETE | $29.35 | $23.07 | $52.42 | Agreement |
| PAIN0711-006 · Painters and Allied Trades agreement, May 1, 2024 | ||||
| DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER | $43.41 | $29.86 | $73.27 | Agreement |
| 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 | Agreement |
| 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 | $107.14 | Agreement |
| PLUM0475-004 · Plumbers and Pipefitters agreement, May 1, 2025 | ||||
Group definitions, zones and premiums for PLUM0475-004PIPEFITTER (MERCER COUNTY (north of a line drawn from the point at which Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) meets the Hunterdon/Mercer County line; then, south along Rt. 602 (also known as Hopewell - Wertsville Rd.) to the Borough of Hopewell, includes the Borough of Hopewell; then, east along the Reading Railroad to the Mercer/Somerset County line (Province Line Rd.).$ 56.37 50.80 | ||||
| ROOF0030-019 · Roofers agreement, May 1, 2024 | ||||
| ROOFER (ALL TYPES) | $34.35 | $21.75 | $56.10 | Agreement |
| SUNJ2004-052 · Survey of contractors in NJ, January 2, 2009 | ||||
| PAINTER: BRUSH AND ROLLER, EXCLUDES DRYWALL FINISHING/TAPING | $20.53 | $0.00 | $20.53 | Survey |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $13.16 | $0.00 | $13.16 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: CONCRETE PUMP, TRUCK MOUNTED | $13.50 | $2.34 | $15.84 | Survey |
| ELECTRICIAN | $37.89 | $16.10 | $53.99 | 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 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