Free Apprentice Wage Calculator
Apprentice wages on prevailing wage projects are calculated as a percentage of the journeyman rate for their trade. The exact percentage depends on the apprentice's hours of experience and their occupation's wage schedule (found in Appendix A). This guide walks through the calculation step by step and includes a free wage calculator tool.
📥 Download Tool: Apprenticeship Wage Schedule Calculator
Step-by-Step: Calculating the Apprentice Wage
Step 1: Find the Journeyman Rate on SAM.gov
Visit SAM.gov to locate the appropriate prevailing wage determination. Filter by:
Building type (commercial, residential, heavy)
County where the work is performed
Occupation of the apprentice
This journeyman rate is the baseline for calculating apprentice wages. You must also pay fringes.
Step 2: Locate the Correct Appendix A
Each occupation has a corresponding Appendix A, which includes the official Apprentice Wage Schedule.
Refer to Section 4: Apprentice Wage Schedule in Appendix A
This schedule shows the percentage of the journeyman rate apprentices can be paid at different experience levels
Step 3: Calculate the Apprentice Wage
The wage schedule applies a percentage to the journeyman rate.
Example:
Journeyman rate = $50/hour
First 1,000 hours = 72% of journeyman rate
Apprentice wage = $50 × 0.72 = $36/hour
Step 4: Set Up Wage Tracking in Apprentix
As a Fractional Sponsor client, your wage schedule for non-prevailing wage jobs is already setup in Apprentix. Do not change this.
For prevailing wage jobs, you'll simply be notified when an apprentice has reached a level by number of hours worked. You'll need to calculate the correct minimum wage for the apprentice based on the prevailing wage of that job.
Apprentix will send notifications when an apprentice reaches the next wage tier based on hours worked
Step 5: Understand Wage Increase Requirements
Wage increases are required only if you are paying at the minimum outlined in the schedule
If you already pay above the minimum, no increase is required unless the new minimum exceeds your current rate
The schedule represents the minimum allowable wage — you may always choose to pay more
Additional Notes
Always confirm you’re using the correct Appendix A for the apprentice’s occupation
Journeyman rates may change — regularly check SAM.gov for updates
Apprentix helps ensure compliance by tracking hours and reminding you of wage increases
Important: The wage percentage discount applies only to the hourly base rate, not to fringe benefits. You must still pay the full fringe benefit amount.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of the journeyman rate does an apprentice earn?
In order to understand what percentage of the journeyman rate an apprentice earns, you will first need to check Appendix A for that apprentice's occupation and look in Section 4 called the Apprentice Wage Schedule. There you will find a percentage of the journeyman rate, which is also the same as the prevailing wage. Based on the total number of hours the apprentice has worked, you will see what minimum wage they should be earning as a percentage of the journeyman rate. In order to determine which level the apprentice is at. You can run the apprentice report in order to see how many total hours the apprentice has worked. Alternatively you can click on the apprentice's name and then click on the People tab and you can see the total number of hours worked there as well.
How do apprentice wage increases work?
When an apprentice has completed a total number of hours, Apprentix will notify you when they have reached the next level. A task will be created only for the Admin, notifying you that you must check to ensure that the apprentice is making the minimum wage for the next level based on the total number of hours they have worked. That task is only sent to the Admins. It is not sent to the Department of Labor, nor is the apprentice notified.
Does the apprentice wage discount apply to fringe benefits?
Yes the apprentice wage discount also applies to fringe benefits.
Where do I find the prevailing wage rate for my project?
To find the prevailing wage for your project, you must go to SAM.gov and select wage determinations and then, using the filters, identify the type of project you are working on as well as the location. Then you will look for the occupation and find the date of the prevailing wage that matches the project start date. If you do not know the project start date, you can request it from your client or you can use the most up-to-date version of the wage determination. Please note that if you use a wage determination that was made after the project start date, it is possible that you will be paying an increased amount over what is necessary.
What is the minimum apprentice wage?
The minimum wage for a prevailing wage project is based on the total number of hours that the apprentice has been given credit for across both the classroom hours and the on-the-job hours. By adding those two up you will be able to see how many total hours they have worked and map that against Appendix A to determine which level they are at and therefore what the minimum apprentice wage should be.
Who pays the apprenticeship wage?
All registered apprentices must be W-2 employees of the firm that is registering them. Therefore apprentice wages are paid by the employer who has the payroll of record.
✅ By following these steps and using Apprentix’s tracking tools, you’ll stay compliant with DOL requirements while ensuring fair apprentice pay.