TradeSalary

Prevailing wage rates in Boulder County, CO

Davis-Bacon rates as of May 18, 2026, in the Boulder, CO BLS area

Electricians on federal building jobs in Boulder County must be paid at least $46.80 an hour plus $19.53 an hour in fringe benefits (CO20260017, modification 1, published May 18, 2026). Boulder County has 4 active determinations covering building, residential, highway and heavy construction; every rate is below.

Prevailing rate vs. market pay

The Davis-Bacon package (rate plus fringe) across the county's determinations, beside what the trade earns in the area according to the BLS (May 2025 median hourly wage for the metro).

TradeDavis-Bacon packageBLS median
Electricians$22.11 – $66.33$30.83 an hour
Plumbers and pipefitters$22.21 – $76.17$31.20 an hour
Carpenters$14.76 – $29.45$28.73 an hour
Power equipment operators$16.08 – $53.83$34.16 an hour
Ironworkers$24.23 – $62.05not published
Roofers$14.73 – $17.14$26.99 an hour

Building construction

Determination CO20260017, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 31 classifications.

ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
Electricians
ELECTRICIAN$46.80$19.53$66.33Union
Plumbers and pipefitters
PLUMBER (EXCLUDES HVAC DUCT, PIPE AND UNIT INSTALLATION)$47.23$21.68$68.91Union
PIPEFITTER (INCLUDES HVAC PIPE INSTALLATION; EXCLUDES HVAC DUCT…$45.55$22.11$67.66Union
SPRINKLER FITTER (FIRE SPRINKLERS)$48.60$27.57$76.17Union
Carpenters
CARPENTER, EXCLUDES DRYWALL HANGING$22.66$6.79$29.45Survey
Laborers
LABORER: PIPELAYER$16.96$3.68$20.64Survey
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$11.76$0.00$11.76Survey
Power equipment operators
OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE$21.50$0.00$21.50Survey
OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER$18.58$2.42$21.00Survey
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$20.78$5.78$26.56Survey
Ironworkers
IRONWORKER: ORNAMENTAL$39.21$12.50$51.71Union
IRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL$39.21$12.50$51.71Union
Sheet metal workers
SHEET METAL WORKER (INCLUDES HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION; EXCLUDES…$43.05$22.65$65.70Union
Painters
PAINTER: BRUSH, ROLLER AND SPRAY (EXCLUDES DRYWALL…$27.41$11.56$38.97Union
Roofers
ROOFER$17.14$0.00$17.14Survey
Cement masons
CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER$20.31$6.76$27.07Survey
Bricklayers
BRICKLAYER$21.96$0.00$21.96Survey
Truck drivers
TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK$17.34$0.00$17.34Survey
Every other classification (13)
ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR - MECHANICAL (DUCT, PIPE…$36.98$16.82$53.80Union
MILLWRIGHT$42.10$19.02$61.12Union
ELEVATOR MECHANICFOOTNOTE: A.VACATION: 6%/UNDER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED. 8%/OVER 5 YEARS BASED ON REGULAR HOURLY RATE FOR ALL HOURS WORKED. B. PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY; MEMORIAL DAY; INDEPENDENCE DA…$56.57$38.44$95.01Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (91 TO 140 TONS)$37.34$15.20$52.54Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (51 TO 90 TONS)$36.09$15.20$51.29Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (50 TONS AND UNDER)$35.78$15.20$50.98Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (141 TONS AND OVER)$39.80$15.20$55.00Union
SOFT FLOOR LAYER (VINYL AND CARPET)$18.25$14.33$32.58Union
LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETE$16.00$0.00$16.00Survey
LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK$15.99$0.00$15.99Survey
HVAC MECHANIC: HVAC UNIT INSTALLATION, EXCLUDES PIPE AND DUCT…$25.23$9.36$34.59Survey
DRYWALL HANGER$19.24$6.30$25.54Survey
DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER$20.82$6.37$27.19Survey

Rate and fringe are per hour unless a row says per day. Total is the rate plus the fringe. Union rows come from a collective bargaining agreement; survey rows from a Department of Labor wage survey, which can be years old.

Residential construction

Determination CO20260004, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 34 classifications.

ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
Electricians
ELECTRICIAN (INCLUDING LOW VOLTAGE WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF…$35.40$16.06$51.46Union
ELECTRICIAN (INCLUDING LOW VOLTAGE WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF…$31.96$12.50$44.46Union
ELECTRICIAN (INCLUDING LOW VOLTAGE WIRING AND INSTALLATION OF…$31.75$13.25$45.00Union
ELECTRICIAN (EL PASO COUNTY)$30.53$16.30$46.83Union
Plumbers and pipefitters
PLUMBER (INCLUDING HVAC PIPE) (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER…$23.24$5.35$28.59Union
PLUMBERS (INCLUDE HVAC PIPE) & PIPEFITTERS (EXCLUDE HVAC PIPE)TRAVEL OR ZONE PAY: TRAVEL OR ZONE PAY SHALL APPLY TO PROJECTS OVER SEVENTY-FIVE (75) MILES FROM THE INTERSECTION OF I-25 AND THE EL PASO/PUEBLO COUNTY LINE. APPRENTICE SHALL RECEIVE THE SAME ZONE PAY AS A JOURNEYMAN. TR…$41.40$17.17$58.57Union
PLUMBER: (PLUMBERS INCLUDE HVAC PIPE) & PIPEFITTERS (EXCLUDE…$41.32$16.01$57.33Union
PIPEFITTER (EXCLUDING HVAC PIPE) (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER…$44.15$22.43$66.58Union
SPRINKLER FITTER$18.47$3.74$22.21Survey
Carpenters
FORMBUILDER/FORMSETTER$12.78$1.98$14.76Survey
CARPENTER (EXCLUDING DRYWALL HANGING/FRAMING, METAL STUD WORK…$16.36$1.38$17.74Survey
Laborers
LABORERS: BRICK FINISHERS/TENDERS$11.25$0.00$11.25Survey
LABORERS: (COMMON)$8.86$0.00$8.86Survey
Power equipment operators
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS:(ROLLER: SELF-PROPELLED ALL TYPES…$34.05$14.25$48.30Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: WATER WAGON$34.05$14.25$48.30Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SCRAPER: SINGLE BOWL UNDER 40 CUBIC…$34.21$14.25$48.46Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SCRAPER: SINGLE BOWL INCLUDING PUPS…$34.41$14.25$48.66Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: ROLLER: SELF-PROPELLED RUBBER TIRES…$33.62$14.25$47.87Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADER: BLADE-ROUGH$34.05$14.25$48.30Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADER: BLADE-FINISH$34.58$14.25$48.83Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BULLDOZER$34.05$14.25$48.30Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: FRONT END LOADER$16.50$0.00$16.50Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE)$12.98$3.31$16.29Survey
Ironworkers
IRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL$39.21$12.50$51.71Union
Sheet metal workers
SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT AND INSTALLATION OF HVAC SYSTEMS)$43.05$22.65$65.70Union
SHEET METAL WORKER: ALL OTHER WORK$17.30$4.05$21.35Survey
Painters
PAINTER: BRUSH, ROLLER AND SPRAY (EXCLUDES DRYWALL FINISHING…$13.62$3.39$17.01Survey
Roofers
ROOFER$14.73$0.00$14.73Survey
Cement masons
CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER$16.80$0.00$16.80Survey
Bricklayers
BRICKLAYER (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER…$41.91$12.49$54.40Union
Every other classification (4)
ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
GLAZIER$37.26$13.15$50.41Union
LABORERS: CONCRETE/MASON TENDERS$10.00$0.00$10.00Survey
DRYWALL HANGER/FRAMER (INCLUDING METAL STUD WORK)$17.13$2.63$19.76Survey
DRYWALL FINISHER/TAPER$13.00$0.00$13.00Survey

Rate and fringe are per hour unless a row says per day. Total is the rate plus the fringe. Union rows come from a collective bargaining agreement; survey rows from a Department of Labor wage survey, which can be years old.

Highway construction

Determination CO20260007, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 53 classifications.

ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
Electricians
TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION: GROUNDSMAN$18.52$3.59$22.11Survey
ELECTRICIAN$33.39$7.64$41.03Survey
Carpenters
CARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)$17.06$3.90$20.96Survey
CARPENTER (EXCLUDES FORM WORK)$16.61$3.88$20.49Survey
Laborers
LABORER: TRAFFIC CONTROL (SETS UP/MOVES BARRELS, CONES…$12.43$3.22$15.65Survey
LABORER: TRAFFIC CONTROL (FLAGGER)$9.55$3.05$12.60Survey
LABORER: PIPELAYER$16.74$1.89$18.63Survey
LABORER: LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION$12.26$3.16$15.42Survey
LABORER: CONCRETE SAW (HAND HELD)$16.29$6.14$22.43Survey
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL$16.29$4.25$20.54Survey
LABORER: ASPHALT SPREADER$18.58$4.65$23.23Survey
LABORER: ASPHALT SHOVELER$21.21$4.25$25.46Survey
LABORER: ASPHALT RAKER$16.29$4.25$20.54Survey
Power equipment operators
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (3)- DRILL RIG CAISSON (SMALLER THAN…$35.03$15.20$50.23Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: TRACTOR$13.13$2.95$16.08Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCREED$22.67$8.72$31.39Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ROTOMILL$16.22$4.41$20.63Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ROLLER/COMPACTOR (DIRT AND GRADE…$22.32$8.72$31.04Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: OILER$22.77$9.22$31.99Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANIC$22.97$8.72$31.69Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END)$22.67$8.72$31.39Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GUARDRAIL/POST DRIVER$16.54$4.10$20.64Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE$22.67$8.72$31.39Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFT$15.91$4.27$20.18Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: DRILL$21.42$2.88$24.30Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZER$26.90$5.59$32.49Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPER$22.83$8.72$31.55Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOOM$22.67$8.72$31.39Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID LOADER$15.37$4.28$19.65Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/TRACKHOE$21.70$5.51$27.21Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADER$22.67$8.72$31.39Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT ROLLER$23.01$9.22$32.23Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT PAVER$24.19$6.58$30.77Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT LAYDOWN$22.67$8.25$30.92Survey
Ironworkers
IRONWORKER: STRUCTURAL (EXCLUDES GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION)$18.22$6.01$24.23Survey
Painters
PAINTER (SPRAY ONLY)$16.99$2.87$19.86Survey
HIGHWAY/PARKING LOT STRIPING: PAINTER$12.62$3.21$15.83Survey
Cement masons
CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER$17.39$3.00$20.39Survey
Truck drivers
TRUCK DRIVER: WATER TRUCK$20.64$5.27$25.91Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: TRUCK MOUNTED ATTENUATOR$12.43$3.22$15.65Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: SEMI/TRAILER TRUCK$18.39$4.13$22.52Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: PICKUP AND PILOT CAR$13.93$3.68$17.61Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: MULTI-PURPOSE SPECIALTY & HOISTING TRUCK$16.41$4.97$21.38Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: LOWBOY TRUCK$17.25$5.27$22.52Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK$16.41$5.27$21.68Survey
TRUCK DRIVER: DISTRIBUTOR$21.69$5.27$26.96Survey
Every other classification (7)
ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (6)-CRANE (91-140 TONS)$37.34$15.20$52.54Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (5)-DRILL RIG CAISSON (WATSON 2500…$35.41$15.20$50.61Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (4)-SCRAPER (SINGLE BOWL, UNDER 40…$35.20$15.20$50.40Union
LABORER: MASON TENDER- CEMENT/CONCRETE$16.29$4.25$20.54Survey
IRONWORKER: REINFORCING (EXCLUDES GUARDRAIL INSTALLATION)$16.69$5.45$22.14Survey
GUARDRAIL INSTALLER$16.21$3.63$19.84Survey
FENCE ERECTOR$15.96$3.46$19.42Survey

Rate and fringe are per hour unless a row says per day. Total is the rate plus the fringe. Union rows come from a collective bargaining agreement; survey rows from a Department of Labor wage survey, which can be years old.

Heavy construction

Determination CO20260002, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 45 classifications.

ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
Electricians
ELECTRICIAN (PUEBLO COUNTY)$35.40$16.06$51.46Union
ELECTRICIAN (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER…$46.80$19.53$66.33Union
ELECTRICIAN (MESA COUNTY IN COLRADO.)$31.75$13.25$45.00Union
ELECTRICIAN (EL PASO COUNTY)$40.70$18.47$59.17Union
Plumbers and pipefitters
PLUMBER (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER, DOUGLAS…$50.68$20.15$70.83Union
PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS (EL PASO COUNTY)$45.90$17.17$63.07Union
PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS (PUEBLO COUNTY)$45.90$17.17$63.07Union
PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS (MESA COUNTY)$41.32$16.01$57.33Union
PIPEFITTER (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER…$44.15$22.43$66.58Union
Carpenters
CARPENTERS: FORM BUILDING AND SETTING$16.97$2.74$19.71Survey
CARPENTERS: ALL OTHER WORK$15.14$3.37$18.51Survey
Laborers
LABORERS: PIPELAYER$18.68$6.78$25.46Union
LABORERS: LANDSCAPE$12.56$3.21$15.77Survey
LABORERS: FLAGGER$8.91$3.80$12.71Survey
LABORERS: (COMMON)$11.22$2.92$14.14Survey
Power equipment operators
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: TRACKHOE$35.20$15.20$50.40Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SCRAPER: SINGLE BOWL, INCLUDING PUPS…$35.41$15.20$50.61Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SCRAPER: SINGLE BOWL UNDER 40 CUBIC…$35.20$15.20$50.40Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: OILER$34.14$15.20$49.34Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MECHANIC$35.58$15.20$50.78Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: FORKLIFT$34.58$15.20$49.78Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CRANES: 141 TONS AND OVER$38.63$15.20$53.83Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CRANES: 91 TO 140 TONS$36.27$15.20$51.47Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CRANES: 51 TO 90 TONS$35.07$15.20$50.27Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CRANES: 50 TONS AND UNDER$34.77$15.20$49.97Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BULLDOZER$34.05$15.20$49.25Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BLADE: ROUGH$34.05$15.20$49.25Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BLADE: FINISH$34.58$15.20$49.78Union
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SKID LOADER$15.37$4.41$19.78Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: FRONT END LOADER$17.24$3.23$20.47Survey
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE)$16.36$2.48$18.84Survey
Ironworkers
IRONWORKER: STRUCTURAL$39.21$22.84$62.05Union
Sheet metal workers
SHEET METAL WORKER$43.05$22.65$65.70Union
Painters
PAINTERS: BRUSH, ROLLER & SPRAY$15.81$3.26$19.07Survey
Cement masons
CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER$17.31$2.85$20.16Survey
Bricklayers
BRICKLAYER (ADAMS, ARAPAHOE, BOULDER, BROOMFIELD, DENVER…$42.37$12.86$55.23Union
BRICKLAYER (EL PASO AND PUEBLO COUNTIES)$32.93$14.29$47.22Union
Truck drivers
TRUCK DRIVERS: TANDEM/SEMI AND WATER$27.59$4.87$32.46Union
TRUCK DRIVERS: PICKUP$26.96$4.87$31.83Union
Every other classification (6)
ClassificationRateFringeTotalBasis
ASBESTOS WORKERS/INSULATOR (INCLUDES APPLICATION OF ALL…$36.98$16.82$53.80Union
LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINEMAN AND WELDER$61.46$14.90$76.36Union
LINE CONSTRUCTION: LINE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR$44.27$9.41$53.68Union
LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUNDMAN$27.39$5.82$33.21Union
IRONWORKER: REINFORCING$18.83$3.90$22.73Survey
BOILERMAKER$17.60$0.00$17.60Survey

Rate and fringe are per hour unless a row says per day. Total is the rate plus the fringe. Union rows come from a collective bargaining agreement; survey rows from a Department of Labor wage survey, which can be years old.

Before you rely on a rate

These are federal Davis-Bacon rates for federal and federally assisted construction; state-funded work may follow Colorado's own law. The contracting agency chooses which determination applies, and the one attached to the contract governs, even after a newer modification. Apprentices in registered programs may be paid a percentage of these rates. Nothing here is legal advice.

Source

U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, general wage determinations CO20260017, CO20260004, CO20260007, CO20260002, as published on SAM.gov and refreshed here weekly. Rates are shown exactly as published; the construction types are building, residential, highway, heavy. TradeSalary is not affiliated with the Department of Labor.