Highway prevailing wage rates for Ballard County, KY
DIVER leads the highway schedule for Ballard County, KY at $51.21 base plus $24.02 fringe. The active federal wage determination covering highway construction in Ballard County, KY lists 63 classifications with published rates, base pay from $18.50 to $51.21 per hour. The determination was last modified May 18, 2026.
The most recent modification to the governing determination is dated May 18, 2026. DOL's weekly publication cycle means further modifications can post on any Friday.
With 63 classifications carrying published rates, this is a comparatively deep schedule; most trades a highway project needs appear without a conformance request.
100% of the rate lines here carry union local identifiers, so the published figures track negotiated agreements, which is why some classifications carry high fringe amounts relative to base.
Using these rates
Read the modification number
A wage determination is cited as number plus modification, for example KY20260040 Mod dated May 18, 2026. Your certified payroll should reflect the determination in your contract, not necessarily the newest one.
Put the WD in your bid file
Save the full determination text with your bid papers the day you price the job. If rates change later, the contract determination is your record of what you bid against.
Check rates the Friday before payroll
DOL publishes modifications weekly, generally Fridays. A quick check before running payroll catches a mid-project modification before it shows up in an agency review instead.
Match classifications by duties, not titles
The classification that applies is determined by the work performed, not the worker's title. A foreman who works with the tools is generally due the rate for the hours on the tools.
Fringe crediting basics
You can meet the fringe obligation with bona fide benefit plan contributions, cash, or a combination. Track the hourly equivalent of what you contribute; agencies ask for the math.
Statement of Compliance wording
The signed Statement of Compliance may be the WH-347 back page or another document with identical wording. The signature is a federal certification by your company's officer; accuracy is on the certifier.
Questions
Which wage determination applies to my project in Ballard County?
The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Ballard County, KY, the current active determination is KY20260040. Verify with your contracting officer before bidding or paying.
How often do these rates change?
DOL publishes wage determination modifications weekly, generally on Fridays. The determination behind this page was last modified May 18, 2026.
What is the difference between the base rate and the fringe rate?
The base rate is the minimum hourly wage; the fringe amount is an additional hourly benefit obligation you can meet with bona fide benefit contributions or pay in cash. On this schedule the median fringe is about 66% of base.
My classification is not listed for Ballard County. What do I do?
If the work classification you need is not on the determination, the contractor requests a conformance (additional classification and rate) through the contracting agency using Standard Form 1444. Do not substitute a similar-sounding classification.
What counts as highway construction?
Highway covers roads, streets, runways, and similar paving work not incidental to building, residential, or heavy construction.
Does the federal rate or the Kentucky state prevailing wage apply?
IRONWORKERSTRUCTURAL; ORNAMENTAL; REINFORCING; PRECAST CONCRETE ERECTORS (BUTLER COUNTY (EASTERN EIGHTH, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF DECKER, LEE & TILFORD); EDMONSON COUNTY (NORTHERN THREE-FOURTHS, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF ASPHALT, BEE SPRING, BROWNSVILLE, GRASSLAND, HUFF, KYROCK, LINDSEYVILLE, MAMMOTH CAVE, OLLIE, PROSPERITY, RHODA, SUNFISH & SWEDEN))
IRONWORKERS(DAVIESS, HANCOCK, HENDERSON, HOPKINS, MCLEAN, OHIO, UNION & WEBSTER COUNTIES BUTLER COUNTY (TOWNSHIPS OF ABERDEEN, BANCOCK, CASEY, DEXTERVILLE, DUNBAR, ELFIE, GILSTRAP, HUNTSVILLE, LOGANSPORT, MONFORD, MORGANTOWN, PROVO, ROCHESTER, SOUTH HILL & WELCHS CREEK); CALDWELL COUNTY (NORTHEASTERN THIRD, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIP OF CRESWELL); CHRISTIAN COUNTY (NORTHERN THIRD, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF APEX, CROFTON, KELLY, MANNINGTON & WYNNS); CRITTENDEN COUNTY (NORTHEA
IRONWORKERS(ALLEN, LOGAN, SIMPSON, TODD & WARREN COUNTIES BUTLER COUNTY (SOUTHERN THIRD, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF BOSTON, BERRYS LICK, DIMPLE, JETSON, QUALITY, SHARER, SUGAR GROVE & WOODBURY); CHRISTIAN COUNTY (EASTERN TWO-THIRDS, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF BENNETTSTOWN, CASKY, HERNDON, HOPKINSVILLE, HOWELL, MASONVILLE, PEMBROKE & THOMPSONVILLE); EDMONSON COUNTY (SOUTHERN FOURTH, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF CHALYBEATE & ROCKY HILL); MUHLENBERG COUNTY (SOUTHERN EIGHTH, I
IRONWORKERS: PROJECTS WITH A TOTAL CONTRACT COST OF $20,000,000.00 OR ABOVE (BALLARD, CALLOWAY, CARLISLE, FULTON, GRAVES, HICKMAN, LIVINGSTON, LYON, MARSHALL, MCCRACKEN & TRIGG COUNTIES CALDWELL COUNTY (SOUTHWESTERN TWO-THIRDS, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF CEDAR BLUFF, CIDER, CLAXTON, COBB, CROWTOWN, DULANEY, FARMERSVILLE, FREDONIA, MCGOWAN, OTTER POND & PRINCETON); CHRISTIAN COUNTY (WESTERN THIRD, EXCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF APEX, CROFTON, KELLY, MANNINGTON, WYNNS, BENNETTSTOWN, CASKY
IRONWORKERS: ALL OTHER WORK (BALLARD, CALLOWAY, CARLISLE, FULTON, GRAVES, HICKMAN, LIVINGSTON, LYON, MARSHALL, MCCRACKEN & TRIGG COUNTIES CALDWELL COUNTY (SOUTHWESTERN TWO-THIRDS, INCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF CEDAR BLUFF, CIDER, CLAXTON, COBB, CROWTOWN, DULANEY, FARMERSVILLE, FREDONIA, MCGOWAN, OTTER POND & PRINCETON); CHRISTIAN COUNTY (WESTERN THIRD, EXCLUDING THE TOWNSHIPS OF APEX, CROFTON, KELLY, MANNINGTON, WYNNS, BENNETTSTOWN, CASKY, HERNDON, HOPKINSVILLE, HOWELL, MASONVILLE, PEM
PAINTERSALL OTHER WORK (CALDWELL, CALLOWAY, CARLISLE, CHRISTIAN, CRITTENDEN, FULTON, GRAVES, HICKMAN, HOPKINS, LIVINGSTON, LYON, MARSHALL, MCCRACKEN & TRIGG COUNTIES) WATERBLASTING UNITS WITH 3500 PSI AND ABOVE - $.50 PREMIUM SPRAYPAINTING AND ALL ABRASIVE BLASTING - $1.00 PREMIUM WORK 40 FT. AND ABOVE GROUND LEVEL - $1.00 PREMIUM
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORGROUP 4 BITUMINOUS DISTRIBUTOR; BURLAP & CURING MACHINE; CEMENT GUN; CONCRETE SAW; CONVEYOR; DECKHAND OILER; GROUT PUMP; HYDRAULIC POST DRIVER; HYDRO SEEDER; MUD JACK; OILER; PAVING JOINT MACHINE; POWER FORM HANDLING EQUIPMENT; PUMP; ROLLER (EARTH); STEERMAN; TAMPING MACHINE; TRACTOR (UNDER 50 H.P.); & VIBRATOR CRANES - WITH BOOMS 150 FT. & OVER (INCLUDING JIB), AND WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING EQUALS OR EXCEEDS 150 FT. - $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE EMPL
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORGROUP 3 ALL OFF ROAD MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING ARTICULATING DUMP TRUCKS; GREASER ON GREASE FACILITIES SERVICING HEAVY EQUIPMENT CRANES - WITH BOOMS 150 FT. & OVER (INCLUDING JIB), AND WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING EQUALS OR EXCEEDS 150 FT. - $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 2 AIR COMPRESSOR(OVER 900 CU. FT. PER MIN.); BITUMINOUS MIXER; BOOM TYPE TAMPING MACHINE; BULL FLOAT; CONCRETE MIXER (UNDER 21 CU. FT.); DREDGE ENGINEER; ELECTRIC VIBRATOR; COMPACTOR/SELF-PROPELLED COMPACTOR; ELEVATOR (ONE DRUM OR BUCK HOIST); ELEVATOR (WHEN USED TO HOIST BUILDING MATERIAL); FINISH MACHINE; FIREMEN & HOIST (ONE DRUM); FLEXPLANE; FORKLIFT (REGARDLESS OF LIFT HEIGHT); FORM GRADER; JOINT SEALING MACHINE; OUTBOARD MOTOR BOAT; POWER SWEEPER (RIDING TYPE); ROLLER (ROCK); ROSS CARRIER; SKID MOUNTED OR
TRUCK DRIVERGROUP 3 SINGLE AXLE DUMP; FLAT BED; ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE WHEN USED TO HAUL MATERIALS; SEMI TRAILER OR POLE TRAILER WHEN USED TO PULL BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT; TANDEM AXLE DUMP; DRIVER OF DISTRIBUTORS; MIXER ALL TYPES (DAVIESS, HANCOCK, HENDERSON, HOPKINS, MCLEAN, MUHLENBERG, OHIO & WEBSTER COUNTIES)
TRUCK DRIVERGROUP 4 EUCLID AND OTHER HEAVY EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT; LOW BOY; ARTICULATOR CAT; 5 AXLE VEHICLE; WINCH AND A- FRAME WHEN USED IN TRANSPORTING MATERIALS; ROSS CARRIER; FORK LIFT WHEN USED TO TRANSPORT BUILDING MATERIALS; DRIVER ON PAVEMENT BREAKER (DAVIESS, HANCOCK, HENDERSON, HOPKINS, MCLEAN, MUHLENBERG, OHIO & WEBSTER COUNTIES)
TRUCK DRIVERGROUP 4 EUCLID AND OTHER HEAVY EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT; LOW BOY; ARTICULATOR CAT; FIVE AXLE VEHICLE; WINCH AND A-FRAME WHEN USED IN TRANSPORTING MATERIALS; ROSS CARRIER (BALLARD, CALDWELL, CALLOWAY, CARLISLE, CHRISTIAN, CRITTENDEN, FULTON, GRAVES, HICKMAN, LIVINGSTON, LYON, MARSHALL, MCCRACKEN,TODD & TRIGG COUNTIES)
TRUCK DRIVERGROUP 3 SINGLE AXLE DUMP; FLAT BED; ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE WHEN USED TO HAUL MATERIALS; SEMI TRAILER OR POLE TRAILER WHEN USED TO PULL BUILDING MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT; TANDEM AXLE DUMP; DRIVERS OF DISTRIBUTORS (BALLARD, CALDWELL, CALLOWAY, CARLISLE, CHRISTIAN, CRITTENDEN, FULTON, GRAVES, HICKMAN, LIVINGSTON, LYON, MARSHALL, MCCRACKEN,TODD & TRIGG COUNTIES)
* changed in the most recent modification. Survey-based (SU) identifiers are non-union survey rates. Amounts tagged per day or per shift are published that way in the source determination and are not hourly wages; they are excluded from the hourly figures above.
They are separate systems. Davis-Bacon rates apply to federally funded or assisted work; a state prevailing wage law can apply to state-funded work. A project can be covered by both, in which case the higher rate for each classification effectively controls. This page shows the federal determination only.
Is the WH-347 form mandatory?
The WH-347 itself is optional; what is mandatory on covered work is submitting weekly certified payroll with the same information and a signed Statement of Compliance. Most contractors use the WH-347 layout because agencies expect it.