Which wage determination applies to my project in Essex County?

The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Essex County, NJ, the current active determination is NJ20260002. 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 68% of base.

My classification is not listed for Essex 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 New Jersey state prevailing wage apply?

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.

PREVAILWAGE

Pulling the rate table…

Highway prevailing wage rates for Essex County, NJ | PrevailWage

Highway prevailing wage rates for Essex County, NJ

LINE CONSTRUCTION leads the highway schedule for Essex County, NJ at $71.97 base plus $46.42 fringe. The active federal wage determination covering highway construction in Essex County, NJ lists 73 classifications with published rates, base pay from $31.03 to $71.97 per hour. The determination was last modified May 18, 2026.

Classifications: 73; with published rates
Median base: $51.90; per hour
Median fringe: 68%; of base pay
Last modified: May 18, 2026

Published rates

Classification	Base	Fringe	WD
BRICKLAYER(BERGEN, ESSEX AND HUDSON COUNTIES; HUNTERDON COUNTY (NORTH AND WEST OF A LINE DRAWN FROM CLOVER HILL, THROUGH REAVILLE, THROUGH FLEMINGTON, THROUGH HIGH BRIDGE, THROUGH CALIFON, THROUGH FAIRMONT, TO POTTERSVILLE); MIDDLESEX COUNTY (BOROUGH OF DUNELLEN; TOWNSHIP OF EDISON (TOWN OF OAK TREE ONLY); TOWNSHIP OF PISCATAWAY (TOWN OF NEW MARKET ONLY); BOROUGH OF SOUTH PLAINFIELD); MORRIS AND PASSAIC COUNTIES; SOMERSET COUNTY (NORTH OF A LINE DRAWN FROM THE POINT WHERE THE LAMINGTON RIVER leaves the bo	$49.60	$37.96	NJ20260002
BRICKLAYER(HUNTERDON COUNTY (south and east of a line drawn from Clover Hill, through Reaville, through Flemington, through High Bridge, through Califon, through Fairmont, to Pottersville); MIDDLESEX COUNTY (does not include the Borough of Dunellen; Township of Edison (Town of Oak Tree); Township of Piscataway (Town of New Market); Borough of South Plainfield); SOMERSET COUNTY (south of a line drawn from the point where the Lamington River leaves the boundary line between Hunterdon and Somerset Counties;

Across the 73 published classifications for highway work in Essex County, NJ, base pay spans $31.03 to $71.97 per hour with a median of $51.90.

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.

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 NJ20260002 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 Essex County?: The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Essex County, NJ, the current active determination is NJ20260002. 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 68% of base.
My classification is not listed for Essex 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 New Jersey state prevailing wage apply?: 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.

Sources

NJ20260002 rev. 2 · modified May 18, 2026

Synced from SAM.gov July 18, 2026. The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the legally operative document.