Carpenter Prevailing Wage Rates in District of Columbia (2026)
Carpenters on prevailing wage projects in District of Columbia are paid $19.80 to $48.74 per hour, with a median total of $48.74 across the 8 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $34.41, and among the 8 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $14.33. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.
Figures above are computed over the 8 hourly records in the table below. They are not a statewide average of all carpenters in District of Columbia. Most recent determination in this set: May 18, 2026.
How much do carpenters earn on prevailing wage jobs in District of Columbia?
Every row below is one wage determination line: a carpenter classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.
| Classification | County | Construction type | Funding | Base | Fringe | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenter, Including Drywall Hanging | D.c | Residential | #federal | $17.43 | $2.37 | $19.80 |
| Carpenter, Including Drywall Hanging | Washington | Residential | #federal | $17.43 | $2.37 | $19.80 |
| Carpenter: Includes Drywall Hanging, Form Work, and Soft Floor Laying-carpet | D.c | Building | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
| Carpenter: Includes Drywall Hanging, Form Work, and Soft Floor Laying-carpet | Washington | Building | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
| Carpenter/Lather | D.c | Highway | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
| Carpenter/Lather | D.c | Heavy | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
| Carpenter/Lather | Washington | Highway | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
| Carpenter/Lather | Washington | Heavy | #federal | $34.41 | $14.33 | $48.74 |
What does the carpenter classification cover?
Carpenters frame, form and finish. On heavy and highway determinations the carpenter classification is very often subdivided — form work, scaffold, drywall hanging and piledriving can each carry their own rate — so the plain "Carpenter" rate may not be the one that applies to the specific task.
Work typically covered
- Rough framing
- Concrete formwork
- Scaffolding
- Doors, frames and hardware
- Finish carpentry and millwork
Also listed as
- Carpenter (Form Work Only)
- Carpenter/Drywall Hanger
- Rough Carpenter
In this District of Columbia result set the work appears under 3 distinct classification names.
Carpenter rates by county in District of Columbia
Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the District of Columbia counties with carpenter records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.
See all District of Columbia counties →
Other trades in District of Columbia
Carpenter prevailing wage questions
What is the prevailing wage for a carpenter in District of Columbia?
Across the 8 federal-funded determination records WageFinder lists for carpenters in District of Columbia, total prevailing wage runs from $19.80 to $48.74 per hour, median $48.74. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.
Does the carpenter rate include benefits?
The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 8 District of Columbia records on this page, 8 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $14.33 per hour — roughly 29% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.
Which District of Columbia counties have carpenter rates?
This page lists carpenter records for 2 counties in District of Columbia: D.c, Washington. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.
How current are these District of Columbia carpenter rates?
The most recent determination in this set is dated May 18, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.
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