Prevailing wage rates in Knox County, TN
Davis-Bacon rates as of May 18, 2026, in the Knoxville, TN BLS area
Electricians on federal building jobs in Knox County must be paid at least $34.14 an hour plus $19.94 an hour in fringe benefits (TN20260182, modification 1, published May 18, 2026). Knox 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).
| Trade | Davis-Bacon package | BLS median |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | $20.84 – $54.08 | $28.19 an hour |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | $17.50 – $53.02 | $28.78 an hour |
| Carpenters | $13.89 – $20.09 | $24.23 an hour |
| Power equipment operators | $13.17 – $43.84 | $23.41 an hour |
| Ironworkers | $16.89 – $52.34 | $29.45 an hour |
| Roofers | $10.25 – $16.29 | $21.65 an hour |
Building construction
Determination TN20260182, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 33 classifications.
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN (LOW VOLTAGE WIRING ONLY) | $34.14 | $19.94 | $54.08 | Union |
| ELECTRICIAN (EXCLUDES LOW VOLTAGE WIRING) | $32.45 | $15.25 | $47.70 | Union |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | ||||
| PIPEFITTER | $36.00 | $17.02 | $53.02 | Union |
| PLUMBER | $21.63 | $7.16 | $28.79 | Survey |
| Carpenters | ||||
| CARPENTER | $20.09 | $0.00 | $20.09 | Survey |
| Laborers | ||||
| LABORER: PIPELAYER | $21.45 | $8.06 | $29.51 | Union |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $12.73 | $1.77 | $14.50 | Survey |
| LABORER GRADE CHECKER | $13.01 | $0.00 | $13.01 | Survey |
| LABORER DEMOLITION | $16.74 | $0.00 | $16.74 | Survey |
| Power equipment operators | ||||
| OPERATOR: ROLLER | $14.35 | $0.00 | $14.35 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: PAVER(ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE) | $14.70 | $0.00 | $14.70 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFT | $15.00 | $0.00 | $15.00 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: DRILL | $26.50 | $4.76 | $31.26 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZER | $28.52 | $9.75 | $38.27 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER | $16.84 | $0.00 | $16.84 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $27.77 | $9.75 | $37.52 | Survey |
| Ironworkers | ||||
| IRONWORKER: ORNAMENTAL | $35.32 | $17.02 | $52.34 | Union |
| IRONWORKER, STRUCTURAL | $18.30 | $0.00 | $18.30 | Survey |
| Sheet metal workers | ||||
| SHEET METAL WORKER (SIDING (METAL/ALUMINUM/VINYL)) | $37.70 | $17.40 | $55.10 | Union |
| SHEET METAL WORKER (HVAC DUCT INSTALLATION ONLY) | $37.70 | $17.40 | $55.10 | Union |
| SHEET METAL WORKER, EXCLUDES HVAC DUCT AND UNIT INSTALLATION | $24.19 | $7.52 | $31.71 | Survey |
| Painters | ||||
| PAINTER (BRUSH AND ROLLER) | $19.31 | $10.15 | $29.46 | Survey |
| Roofers | ||||
| ROOFER | $16.29 | $0.00 | $16.29 | Survey |
| Cement masons | ||||
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $22.67 | $4.11 | $26.78 | Survey |
| Bricklayers | ||||
| BRICKLAYER | $20.00 | $0.00 | $20.00 | Survey |
| Truck drivers | ||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $27.95 | $9.73 | $37.68 | Union |
Every other classification (7)
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASBESTOS WORKER/HEAT & FROST INSULATOR | $38.17 | $18.82 | $56.99 | Union |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $36.25 | $13.40 | $49.65 | Union |
| IRONWORKER, REINFORCING | $35.32 | $17.07 | $52.39 | Union |
| TILE SETTER | $19.65 | $0.00 | $19.65 | Survey |
| TILE FINISHER | $14.00 | $0.00 | $14.00 | Survey |
| LABORER: MASON TENDER - CEMENT/CONCRETE | $13.00 | $0.00 | $13.00 | Survey |
| LABORER: MASON TENDER - BRICK | $13.54 | $0.00 | $13.54 | Survey |
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 TN20260022, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 9 classifications.
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $18.52 | $2.32 | $20.84 | Survey |
| Plumbers and pipefitters | ||||
| PLUMBER | $17.50 | $0.00 | $17.50 | Survey |
| Carpenters | ||||
| CARPENTER, INCLUDES CABINET INSTALLATION | $13.89 | $0.00 | $13.89 | Survey |
| Laborers | ||||
| LABORER: LANDSCAPE | $12.33 | $0.30 | $12.63 | Survey |
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 | Survey |
| Power equipment operators | ||||
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE | $13.17 | $0.00 | $13.17 | Survey |
| Roofers | ||||
| ROOFER, INCLUDES SHAKE & SHINGLE ROOFS | $10.25 | $0.00 | $10.25 | Survey |
| Cement masons | ||||
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $16.00 | $0.00 | $16.00 | Survey |
| Bricklayers | ||||
| BRICKLAYER | $12.72 | $0.00 | $12.72 | Survey |
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 TN20260147, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 23 classifications.
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $24.08 | $0.00 | $24.08 | Survey |
| Carpenters | ||||
| CARPENTER | $17.52 | $0.00 | $17.52 | Survey |
| Laborers | ||||
| LABORER, SKILLED (AIR TOOL OPERATOR, ASPHALT RAKER, CHAIN SAW… | $15.27 | $0.00 | $15.27 | Survey |
| LABORER (COMMON/UNSKILLED) | $13.11 | $0.00 | $13.11 | Survey |
| Power equipment operators | ||||
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 4SWEEPING MACHINE (VACUUM) OPERATOR | $15.56 | $0.00 | $15.56 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 4BOBCAT, CENTRAL MINING PLANT, CONCRETE PUMP, CONCRETE SAW, CURB MACHINE (AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL), DOZER OR LOADER (STOCKPILE), DRILL (PILING), MULCHER OR SEEDER, ROCK DRILL (TRUCK MOUNTED), ROLLER (ASPHALT), ROLLER (COMPACT… | $16.48 | $0.00 | $16.48 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 4LIGHT DUTY MECHANIC | $19.53 | $0.00 | $19.53 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 4HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC | $20.33 | $0.00 | $20.33 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 3ASPHALT PAVER, CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINE, CONCRETE PAVER, SCALE, SPREADER (SELF-PROPELLED), CONCRETE GRINDER, ASPHALT MILLING MACHINE, BORING MACHINE (HORIZONTAL) | $17.75 | $0.00 | $17.75 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 2 | $17.08 | $0.00 | $17.08 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1AFARM TRACTOR OPERATOR (POWER BROOM) | $13.50 | $0.00 | $13.50 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1ADRILL OPERATOR (CAISSON) | $25.26 | $0.00 | $25.26 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1BACKHOE/HYDRAULIC EXCAVATOR (3/4 YD & OVER), CRANE (LESS THAN 20 TONS), END LOADER (3 YD & OVER), MOTOR PATROL (FINISH),PILEDRIVER, DRAGLINE | $19.14 | $0.00 | $19.14 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT, CENTRAL MINING PLANT… | $16.48 | $0.00 | $16.48 | Survey |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 5CRANE (OVER 20 TONS) | $20.44 | $0.00 | $20.44 | Survey |
| Ironworkers | ||||
| IRONWORKER (STRUCTURAL) | $16.89 | $0.00 | $16.89 | Survey |
| Painters | ||||
| PAINTER (INCLUDES SANDBLASTER) | $26.36 | $0.00 | $26.36 | Survey |
| Cement masons | ||||
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $15.55 | $0.00 | $15.55 | Survey |
| Bricklayers | ||||
| BRICKLAYER | $14.26 | $0.00 | $14.26 | Survey |
| Truck drivers | ||||
| TRUCK DRIVER (5 OR MORE AXLES) | $16.27 | $0.00 | $16.27 | Survey |
| TRUCK DRIVER (3-4 AXLES) | $14.86 | $0.00 | $14.86 | Survey |
| TRUCK DRIVER (2 AXLES) | $15.36 | $0.00 | $15.36 | Survey |
Every other classification (1)
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IRONWORKER (REINFORCING) | $16.29 | $0.00 | $16.29 | Survey |
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 TN20260129, modification 1, published May 18, 2026. 9 classifications.
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | ||||
| ELECTRICIAN | $32.45 | $15.25 | $47.70 | Union |
| Laborers | ||||
| LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL | $19.77 | $6.53 | $26.30 | Union |
| LABORER: PIPELAYER | $11.75 | $0.00 | $11.75 | Survey |
| LABORER: FLAGGER | $8.73 | $0.00 | $8.73 | Survey |
| Power equipment operators | ||||
| OPERATING ENGINEERS: (FORKLIFT) | $30.44 | $13.40 | $43.84 | Union |
| OPERATOR: LOADER | $13.50 | $0.00 | $13.50 | Survey |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.45 | $0.00 | $18.45 | Survey |
| Truck drivers | ||||
| TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK | $10.76 | $0.00 | $10.76 | Survey |
Every other classification (1)
| Classification | Rate | Fringe | Total | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATING ENGINEERS: (BULLDOZER AND CRANE) | $33.23 | $13.40 | $46.63 | Union |
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 Tennessee'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 TN20260182, TN20260022, TN20260147, TN20260129, 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.