New York plumber prevailing wage rates for 2026 are among the highest in the country, reflecting strong union presence and high cost of living in the state. Both the federal Davis-Bacon Act and New York State Labor Law Article 8 require contractors to pay prevailing wages on public works projects. Plumbers, steamfitters, and pipefitters each fall under specific classification schedules. Overtime is calculated as 1.5x the base rate plus 1.0x fringe benefits — a common source of payroll errors. These rates are sample data for illustration purposes only. Always verify current prevailing wage rates against the official SAM.gov wage determinations before use on any federally funded project.
| Classification | Base Rate | Health & Welfare | Pension | Training | Vacation | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber - Journeyman | $55.90 | $18.35 | $16.20 | $1.25 | $4.50 | $0.80 | $97.00 |
| Plumber - Foreman | $60.50 | $18.35 | $16.20 | $1.25 | $4.50 | $0.80 | $101.60 |
| Steamfitter / Pipefitter | $56.75 | $18.35 | $16.20 | $1.25 | $4.50 | $0.80 | $97.85 |
| Plumber - Apprentice (1st Period) | $27.95 | $18.35 | $8.10 | $0.63 | $2.25 | $0.40 | $57.68 |
These rates are sample data for illustration purposes only. Always verify current prevailing wage rates against the official SAM.gov wage determinations before use on any federally funded project.
Fringe benefits are employer-paid contributions required on top of the base hourly wage. They include health & welfare (medical, dental, vision), pension, apprenticeship training, vacation pay, and other supplemental benefits.
Overtime must be calculated as 1.5x the base rate plus 1.0x the fringe rate. This is NOT 1.5x the total rate — the most common payroll error on Davis-Bacon projects.
Employers can satisfy fringe obligations by making bona fide contributions to approved benefit plans, paying cash equivalents directly to workers, or a combination of both.
Failure to properly account for fringe benefits is one of the top reasons contractors face Davis-Bacon violations and back-pay claims. Accurate tracking is essential.
The base hourly rate for a Plumber - Journeyman is $55.90/hr, with total compensation (including fringe benefits) of $97.00/hr.
Overtime is calculated as 1.5x the base rate plus 1.0x the fringe benefits — NOT 1.5x the total rate. This is the most common payroll error on Davis-Bacon projects.
Fringe benefits include health & welfare, pension, apprenticeship training, vacation pay, and other supplemental contributions. Employers can pay these as bona fide plan contributions or as cash equivalents.
Official prevailing wage rates are published on SAM.gov. The rates shown here are sample data for illustration purposes — always verify against the official wage determination before use on any federally funded project.
TradeStack automates prevailing wage compliance, fringe benefit tracking, and certified payroll reporting.
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