Prevailing Wage Calculator
Labor cost with Davis-Bacon or state prevailing wage rates.
Inputs
%
%
Results
Prevailing Wage Rate ($/hr)
$53.00
≈ 11 cups of coffee
Total Cost / Worker ($)
$9,600.00
≈ 10 smartphones
Straight-Time Earnings ($)$5,600.00
Overtime Premium ($)$0.00
Total Fringes ($)$2,880.00
Payroll Taxes ($)$672.00
Workers' Comp ($)$448.00
Total Labor Cost ($)$9,600.00
Effective Hourly Rate ($)$60.00
Fringe as % of Base51.4%
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the base hourly wage and fringe benefit rate (health, pension, vacation, training) from the applicable wage determination.
- Enter the straight-time hours and any overtime hours for the period — overtime is paid at 1.5x base wage.
- Set the payroll tax percentage (FICA + FUTA + SUTA, typically 10–15%) and workers' compensation rate.
- Enter the number of workers at this trade classification.
- Read the prevailing wage rate per hour, total burdened cost per worker, total labor cost for all workers, and the effective fully loaded hourly rate.
How the result changes with Base Hourly Wage ($)
| Base Hourly Wage ($) | Prevailing Wage Rate ($/hr) | Total Cost / Worker ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $68.00 | $12,480.00 |
| 175 | $193.00 | $36,480.00 |
| 325 | $343.00 | $65,280.00 |
| 450 | $468.00 | $89,280.00 |
What each input means
- Base Hourly Wage ($)
- Prevailing base wage rate from the applicable wage determination.
- Fringe Benefits ($/hr)
- Required fringe benefits per hour (health, pension, vacation, training).
- Straight-Time Hours
- Regular hours worked (e.g., 160 for one month at 40 hrs/week).
- Overtime Hours
- Overtime hours (paid at 1.5x base wage; fringes at straight time).
- Payroll Tax (%)
- FICA, FUTA, SUTA combined (typically 10–15%).
- Workers' Comp (%)
- Workers' compensation insurance rate (varies by trade, typically 3–20%).
- Number of Workers
- Number of workers at this trade/classification.
What each result means
- Prevailing Wage Rate ($/hr)
- Base wage plus fringe benefits per hour.
- Straight-Time Earnings ($)
- Base wage earnings for regular hours.
- Overtime Premium ($)
- Additional 0.5x premium for overtime hours.
- Total Fringes ($)
- Fringe benefits for all hours worked.
- Payroll Taxes ($)
- FICA, FUTA, SUTA on base wage earnings.
- Workers' Comp ($)
- Workers' compensation insurance cost.
- Total Cost / Worker ($)
- Fully burdened cost per worker for the period.
- Total Labor Cost ($)
- Cost for all workers combined.
- Effective Hourly Rate ($)
- Fully loaded cost per hour per worker.
- Fringe as % of Base
- Fringe benefits as a percentage of the base wage.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersBase Hourly Wage ($) = 35, Fringe Benefits ($/hr) = 18, Straight-Time Hours = 160, Overtime Hours = 0 = 7 input(s) provided
- Calculate Prevailing Wage RatePrevailing Wage Rate = baseWage + fringeBenefits53 = $53
- Calculate Total Cost / WorkerTotal Cost / Worker = totalBaseEarnings + totalFringes + payrollTaxes + workersComp9600 = $9,600
- Calculate Straight-Time EarningsStraight-Time Earnings = baseWage * straightTimeHours5600 = $5,600
- Calculate Overtime PremiumOvertime Premium = baseWage * 0.5 * overtimeHours0 = $0
Engine last updated . Checked against 1 independently-derived test — how we verify calculators.
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