NYSDOL certified payroll · reference
Every work classification NYSDOL accepts
The workCategory field in the certified payroll XML is free text as far as the schema is concerned — but the portal validates it against a fixed list of 261 strings. Miss by one character and the upload is rejected.
NYSDOL publishes this list as a PDF, linked from one sentence in the FAQ. It is not mentioned in the Bulk Upload Formatting Guide or the Contractor User Guide, and there is no machine-readable version. So here it is as a page you can search with Ctrl+F.
Source: NYSDOL, "Prevailing Wage Classifications — For Proper Formatting of the .xml File", last updated 2026-07-21. NYSDOL refreshes it around July each year alongside the wage schedules.
Read this before you copy anything
Three values break the pattern, and four contain typos.
Nearly every value separates the trade from the subtype with a space, en dash, space — – , not a hyphen. But:
Carpenter - Millwrightuses a plain hyphen, while all thirty-four other Carpenter values use an en dash — includingCarpenter – Millwright Welderdirectly below it.Insulator – Heat & Frost -Asbestos Workerhas a second separator with a space before it and none after.Teamster – Pick-upsmixes the en dash separator with a real hyphen inside the word.
Four values also contain spelling mistakes in the source: Plumber – Job/Alternations, Ironworker – Curtin Wall Installer, Mason – Gunite Nozzelman and Painter – Linerman Thermoplastic.
Reproduce all of these exactly. Tidying the punctuation or correcting the spelling turns a valid value into a rejected one.
The list
All 261 values, grouped by trade.
Carpenter (35)
Carpenter – Acoustic/DrywallCarpenter – AnticontaminationCarpenter – Artificial TurfCarpenter – BuildingCarpenter – Building High Rise Concrete Form WorkCarpenter – Carpet LayerCarpenter – Certified WelderCarpenter – Concrete Form WorkCarpenter – Core DrillerCarpenter – Deep Sea DiverCarpenter – Deep Sea Diver and TenderCarpenter – Diver Dry DayCarpenter – Diver Wet DayCarpenter – Diver TenderCarpenter – Dock BuilderCarpenter – DraperCarpenter – Dry Wall ApplicatorCarpenter – ExhibitionsCarpenter – Floor CovererCarpenter – Floor LayerCarpenter – Hazardous Waste WorkCarpenter – Heavy & HighwayCarpenter – High RiseCarpenter – LatherCarpenter – Marine ConstructionCarpenter - MillwrightCarpenter – Millwright WelderCarpenter – PiledriverCarpenter – ResidentialCarpenter – SawyerCarpenter – Soft Floor LayerCarpenter – Supplied Air/RespiratorCarpenter – Synthetic Sports SurfacesCarpenter – TimbermanCarpenter – Tunnel
Laborer (35)
Laborer – AnticontaminationLaborer – Asbestos/Hazardous Waste RemovalLaborer – AsphaltLaborer – BlasterLaborer – Bridges OnlyLaborer – BuildingLaborer – ConcreteLaborer – DemolitionLaborer – ExcavatingLaborer – FlagmanLaborer – FormsetterLaborer – Heavy & HighwayLaborer – Laser OperatorLaborer – Line StripingLaborer – Mason TenderLaborer – Micro PaverLaborer – Pipe LayerLaborer – QuarryLaborer – ResidentialLaborer – ScreedmanLaborer – Seal CoaterLaborer – ShovelerLaborer – Small Equipment OperatorLaborer – Supplied Air/RespiratorLaborer – Tool OperatorLaborer – Toxic Material HandlerLaborer – TunnelLaborer – Tunnel Compressed AirLaborer – Tunnel Free AirLaborer – Wagon DrillLaborer – Well PointingLaborer – BlowpipeLaborer – MinerLaborer – NipperLaborer – Powderman
Operating Engineer (34)
Operating Engineer – Backhoes/All TypesOperating Engineer – Ballast RegulatorsOperating Engineer – Boom/All TypesOperating Engineer – Boring Machine/All TypesOperating Engineer – BuildingOperating Engineer – Cherry Picker (Over 20 Tons)Operating Engineer – Concrete Barrier Transfer VehicleOperating Engineer – Cranes/All TypesOperating Engineer – Dredges/All TypesOperating Engineer – Drills/All TypesOperating Engineer – ExcavationOperating Engineer – Front LoadersOperating Engineer – GradersOperating Engineer – Heavy & HighwayOperating Engineer – Helicopter PilotOperating Engineer – Letourneau or TournapullOperating Engineer – Loader (Over 6 Yards)Operating Engineer – MaintenanceOperating Engineer – Marine ConstructionOperating Engineer – MixersOperating Engineer – PipelineOperating Engineer – Pump Truck (Sewer Jet or Similar)Operating Engineer – Rail Anchor MachineOperating Engineer – ResidentialOperating Engineer – Road PaverOperating Engineer – Roller (5 Tons or Under)Operating Engineer – Rollers / All TypesOperating Engineer – SewerOperating Engineer – Steel ErectionOperating Engineer – Trenching MachinesOperating Engineer – Trenchless Pipeline RehabilitationOperating Engineer – TunnelOperating Engineer – Tunnel MachinesOperating Engineer – Well Driller
Mason (21)
Mason – Brick/Block layerMason – BuildingMason – Cement FinisherMason – FireprooferMason – Gunite NozzelmanMason – Heavy & HighwayMason – Marble/SlateMason – MosaicMason – PaversMason – PlastererMason – Pointer/Caulker/CleanerMason – PolisherMason – Refractor PolisherMason – ResidentialMason – Synthetic PlasteringMason – StoneMason – Terrazzo SetterMason – Terrazzo FinisherMason – Tile SetterMason – Tile FinisherMason – Tuck Pointer
Electrician (18)
Electrician – AudioElectrician – Building/WiremanElectrician – Cable SplicerElectrician – CablerElectrician – Certified WelderElectrician – Fire AlarmElectrician – HVAC ControlsElectrician – Hazardous MaterialsElectrician – Heavy & HighwayElectrician – Highway and Street LightingElectrician – MaintenanceElectrician – MineworkElectrician – Pump/Tank WorkElectrician – ResidentialElectrician – Security SystemElectrician – SuspensionElectrician – TeledataElectrician – Tunnel
Lineman Electrician (17)
Lineman Electrician – BuildingLineman Electrician – Cable SplicerLineman Electrician – Certified WelderLineman Electrician – Digging Machine OperatorLineman Electrician – Equipment OperatorLineman Electrician – FlagmanLineman Electrician – GroundmanLineman Electrician – Groundman Truck DriverLineman Electrician – Heavy & HighwayLineman Electrician – Installer/RepairmanLineman Electrician – Mechanic First ClassLineman Electrician – Pipe Type Cable WelderLineman Electrician – Pole TreaterLineman Electrician – TeledataLineman Electrician – Traffic Signals and ControlsLineman Electrician – Tree TrimmerLineman Electrician – Truck Driver
Teamster (16)
Teamster – Agitator Mixer TruckTeamster – All Dump TrucksTeamster – Asphalt DeliveryTeamster – Concrete DeliveryTeamster – Aggregate DeliveryTeamster – Demolition/Debris RemovalTeamster – Euclids or Similar EquipmentTeamster – Flatboy Material TrucksTeamster – Fuel Trucks on the SiteTeamster – Heavy & HighwayTeamster – Panel TrucksTeamster – Pick-upsTeamster – ResidentialTeamster – Road OilersTeamster – Sewer/WaterTeamster – Single Axle Dump Trucks
Painter (15)
Painter – Bridge/Structural SteelPainter – Brush/Roller/SprayPainter – Paper Hanger/WallcoveringPainter – Drywall TaperPainter – EpoxyPainter – Heavy & HighwayPainter – Lead AbatementPainter – Line StripingPainter – Linerman ThermoplasticPainter – Metal PolisherPainter – Power ToolPainter – ResidentialPainter – Sand BlastingPainter – TankPainter – Tunnel
Ironworker (13)
Ironworker – StructuralIronworker – Curtin Wall InstallerIronworker – Derrick/RiggerIronworker – Fence ErectorIronworker – Guide Rail InstallationIronworker – Heavy & HighwayIronworker – Metal Window InstallerIronworker – MoverIronworker – OrnamentalIronworker – Precast ConcreteIronworker – Lather/ReinforcingIronworker – ResidentialIronworker – Rodman
Plumber (11)
Plumber – BuildingPlumber – HVAC/RefrigerationPlumber – Hazmat WorkPlumber – Heavy & HighwayPlumber – Job/AlternationsPlumber – MaintenancePlumber – PipefitterPlumber – Pump and TankPlumber – ResidentialPlumber – Steam/Sprinkler fitterPlumber – Water Treatment
Glazier (6)
Glazier – Auto DoorGlazier – BuildingGlazier – Heavy & HighwayGlazier – High RiseGlazier – ResidentialGlazier – Swing Stage
Asbestos Worker (5)
Asbestos WorkerAsbestos Worker – Abatement OnlyAsbestos Worker – HazardousAsbestos Worker – InsulatorAsbestos Worker – Removal
Sheetmetal (5)
Sheetmetal – BuildingSheetmetal – Heavy & HighwaySheetmetal – Polyresin & FiberglassSheetmetal – ResidentialSheetmetal – Sign Erector
Elevator Constructor (4)
Elevator Constructor – BuildingElevator Constructor – MaintenanceElevator Constructor – Heavy & HighwayElevator Constructor – Maintenance Helper
Steamfitter (4)
Steamfitter – HVAC PipingSteamfitter – HVAC MechanicSteamfitter – Refrigeration MechanicSteamfitter – Oil/Stroke Mechanic
Boiler Maker (3)
Boiler Maker – BuildingBoiler Maker – Heavy & HighwayBoiler Maker – Residential
Millwright (3)
Millwright – BuildingMillwright – Heavy & HighwayMillwright – Residential
Plasterer (3)
Plasterer – BuildingPlasterer – Heavy & HighwayPlasterer – Residential
Roofer (3)
Roofer – Asbestos AbatementRoofer – BuildingRoofer – Residential
Survey Crew (3)
Survey Crew – ConsultingSurvey Crew – ConstructionSurvey Crew – Residential
Insulator (3)
Insulator – Heat & Frost -Asbestos WorkerInsulator – Heat & Frost – HazardousInsulator – Heat & Frost – Insulator
Broadband (2)
Broadband – InstallationBroadband – Field Tech
Sprinkler Fitter (1)
Sprinkler Fitter
Welder (1)
Welder – As Per Trade
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