Prevailing wage rates · Washington · Wage determination
Prevailing wage rates: Cowlitz County, Washington
Heavy construction · WA20260123 modification 1, published May 18, 2026
The short answer
This sheet sets 43 classifications for heavy work in Cowlitz County, Washington. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $29.72 an hour (carpenter, excludes form work) to $88.71 (line construction: line person). 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
2 fringe formulas changed; 1 classification added
- Line construction: 2 fringe formulas changed
Every line that changed (2)
| Classification | Was | Now | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINE PERSON | $64.17 + 23.58+1.5% | $64.17 + $24.54 | changed |
| LINE CONSTRUCTION: EQUIPMENT OPERATOR | $55.19 + 20.11+1.5% | $55.19 + $20.94 | changed |
Classifications added or removed
- Added: OPERATOR: CRANE $54.11 + $18.14
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELEC0077-002 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, February 1, 2024 | |||||
| LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINE PERSON | $64.17 | $24.54 | $88.71 | changed | Agreement, 2024 |
| ELEC0077-003 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, February 1, 2023 | |||||
| TREE TRIMMER: GROUND PERSON | $22.60 | $16.37 | $38.97 | no change | Agreement, 2023 |
| TREE TRIMMER | $42.57 | $17.97 | $60.54 | no change | Agreement, 2023 |
| ELEC0077-005 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, February 1, 2024 | |||||
| LINE CONSTRUCTION: EQUIPMENT OPERATOR | $55.19 | $20.94 | $76.13 | changed | Agreement, 2024 |
| ELEC0112-010 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $60.00 | $27.78 | $87.78 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-045 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE…Full textOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE (BACKHOE, ROBOTIC, TRACK AND WHEEL TYPE UP TO AND INCLUDING TWENTY THOUSAND (20,000) LBS. WITH ANY ATTACHMENTS; EXCAVATOR OPERATOR OVER TWENTY THOUSAND (20,000) LBS. THROUGH EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND (85,000) LBS) | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-046 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| OPERATOR: CONCRETE PUMP | $51.31 | $17.15 | $68.46 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-047 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
OPERATOR: LOADER (LOADERS…Full textOPERATOR: LOADER (LOADERS, RUBBER-TIRED TYPE, LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND (25,000) LBS.) | $51.31 | $17.15 | $68.46 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
OPERATOR: LOADER (LOADER OPERATOR…Full textOPERATOR: LOADER (LOADER OPERATOR, FRONT END AND OVERHEAD, TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND (25,000) LBS. AND LESS THAN SIXTY THOUSAND (60,000) LBS.) | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-048 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE) | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-049 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| OPERATOR: ROLLER | $51.31 | $17.15 | $68.46 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-050 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| OPERATOR: SCREED | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| ENGI0701-054 · Operating Engineers agreement, January 1, 2025 | |||||
| OPERATOR: SCRAPER (SELF-PROPELLED UNDER 45 YARDS) | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: OILER (TRUCK CRANE OILER/DRIVER: 100 TONS AND OVER) | $51.31 | $17.15 | $68.46 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
OPERATOR: OILER (DRILL OILERS…Full textOPERATOR: OILER (DRILL OILERS: AUGER TYPE; TRUCK OR CRANE MOUNT; TRUCK CRANE OILER/DRIVER: UNDER 100 TONS) | $48.09 | $17.15 | $65.24 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANIC | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: DRILL (DRILLING MACHINE; DIRECTIONAL DRILL OVE 20,000 LBS.) | $52.55 | $17.15 | $69.70 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: DRILL (DIRECTIONAL DRILL LOCATOR) | $48.09 | $17.15 | $65.24 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: DRILL (DIRECTIONAL DRILL LESS THAN 20,000 LBS.) | $51.31 | $17.15 | $68.46 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZER (OVER 70,000 LBS. UP TO AND INCLUDING 120,000 LBS.) | $55.88 | $17.15 | $73.03 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABO0242-010 · Laborers agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| LABORER: NOZZLE PERSON | $52.31 | $17.01 | $69.32 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| LABO0335-004 · Laborers agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $44.06 | $15.60 | $59.66 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| PAIN0300-002 · Painters and Allied Trades agreement, July 1, 2025 | |||||
| PAINTER | $41.24 | $14.70 | $55.94 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| SUWA2018-023 · Survey of contractors in WA, March 1, 2024 | |||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: WATER TRUCK | $31.62 | $16.84 | $48.46 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $34.13 | $15.63 | $49.76 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| TRAFFIC CONTROL: LABORER-CONES/ BARRICADES/BARRELS - SETTER/MOVER/SWEEPER | $30.61 | $10.89 | $41.50 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| TRAFFIC CONTROL: FLAGGER | $27.75 | $11.15 | $38.90 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE | $40.28 | $16.17 | $56.45 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFT | $45.93 | $19.20 | $65.13 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER | $43.60 | $0.00 | $43.60 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: FENCE ERECTOR | $30.21 | $0.00 | $30.21 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: PIPELAYER | $30.38 | $10.69 | $41.07 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETE | $38.46 | $0.00 | $38.46 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: HOD CARRIER | $35.06 | $10.94 | $46.00 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: CONCRETE SAW CHAIN | $37.30 | $4.30 | $41.60 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| LABORER: ASPHALT, INCLUDES RAKER, SHOVELER, SPREADER AND DISTRIBUTOR | $37.63 | $11.25 | $48.88 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| IRONWORKER | $43.29 | $25.63 | $68.92 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| GRADE CHECKER | $37.54 | $0.00 | $37.54 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| FORM WORKER | $37.16 | $14.74 | $51.90 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $39.33 | $0.00 | $39.33 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| CARPENTER, EXCLUDES FORM WORK | $29.72 | $0.00 | $29.72 | no change | Survey, 2024 |
| TEAM0313-001 · Teamsters agreement, June 1, 2025 | |||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: ASPHALT MIX | $55.43 | $27.52 | $82.95 | no change | Agreement, 2025 |
| UAVGWA0011 · Union average, March 1, 2024 | |||||
| OPERATOR: CRANE | $54.11 | $18.14 | $72.25 | — | Union average |
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 WA20260123?
- 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
Put these rates on a certified payroll.
Start here and WA20260123 is already filled in when you set up the job. CertifiedHours loads this sheet, checks every line against it as you type hours, and prints the WH-347. Free for one payroll a month.
Start a payroll on this sheetOn this sheet
- 43 classifications in 17 rate groups
- 15 from agreements, 1 from surveys
- Counties: Cowlitz