Which wage determination applies to my project in Whatcom County?

The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Whatcom County, WA, the current active determination is WA20260001. 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 June 16, 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 44% of base.

My classification is not listed for Whatcom 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 Washington 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 Whatcom County, WA | PrevailWage

Highway prevailing wage rates for Whatcom County, WA

CARPENTER leads the highway schedule for Whatcom County, WA at $125.44 base plus $19.13 fringe. The active federal wage determination covering highway construction in Whatcom County, WA lists 209 classifications with published rates, base pay from $31.19 to $125.44 per hour. The determination was last modified June 16, 2026.

Classifications: 209; with published rates
Median base: $52.55; per hour
Median fringe: 44%; of base pay
Last modified: June 16, 2026

Published rates

Classification	Base	Fringe	WD
CABLE SPLICER(CALLAM, JEFFERSON, KING AND KITSAP COUNTIES)	$83.56	$33.71	WA20260001
CABLE SPLICER(CLARK, KLICKITAT AND SKAMANIA COUNTIES). HOURLY ZONE PAY: HOURLY ZONE PAY SHALL BE PAID ON JOBS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE FREE ZONE COMPUTED FROM THE CITY CENTER OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED CITIES: PORTLAND, THE DALLES, HOOD RIVER, TILLAMOOK, SEASIDE AND ASTORIA. ZONE PAY: ZONE 1: 31-50 MILES $1.50/HOUR ZONE 2: 51-70 MILES $3.50/HOUR ZONE 3: 71-90 MILES $5.50/HOUR ZONE 4: BEYOND 90 MILES $9.00/HOUR THESE ARE NOT MILES DRIVEN. ZONES ARE BASED ON DELORRNE STREET ATLAS USA 2006 PLUSCABLE SPLICER (CLARK, KLICKITAT AND SKAMANIA COUNTIES). HOURLY ZONE PAY: HOURLY ZONE PAY SHALL BE PAID ON JOBS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE FREE ZONE COMPUTED FROM THE CITY CENTER OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED CITIES: PORTLAND, THE DALLES, HOOD RIVER, TILLAMOOK, SEASIDE AND ASTORIA. ZONE PAY: ZONE 1: 31-50 MILES $1.50/HOUR ZONE 2: 51-70 MILES $3.50/HOUR ZONE 3: 71-90 MILES $5.50/HOUR ZONE 4: BEYOND 90 MILES $9.00/HOUR THESE ARE NOT MILES DRIVEN. ZONES ARE BASED ON DELORRNE STREET ATLAS USA 2006 PLUS

Across the 209 published classifications for highway work in Whatcom County, WA, base pay spans $31.19 to $125.44 per hour with a median of $52.55.

This schedule has been stable recently; the last modification is dated June 16, 2026. Stability is not permanence: annual editions and mid-year modifications can reset rates in Whatcom County without local notice.

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 WA20260001 Mod dated June 16, 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.

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.

Use last-4 SSN only

Certified payroll uses the employee's name and an individually identifying number, normally the last four digits of the Social Security number. Full SSNs do not belong on submitted payrolls.

Questions

Which wage determination applies to my project in Whatcom County?: The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the one that governs, per 29 CFR 1.6. For new highway work in Whatcom County, WA, the current active determination is WA20260001. 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 June 16, 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 44% of base.
My classification is not listed for Whatcom 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 Washington state prevailing wage apply?

Sources

WA20260001 rev. 4 · modified June 16, 2026

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