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Starting rates are the government minimum wages (Area A). Put your actual rates for a real cost. For rates per sq ft of work, see the table below.
How it’s calculated
Government minimum wages for construction (₹ per day)
| Category | Area A | Area B | Area C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unskilled (helper, beldar) | ₹ 840 | ₹ 704 | ₹ 565 |
| Semi-skilled | ₹ 933 | ₹ 794 | ₹ 661 |
| Skilled (mason, carpenter, bar bender, plumber, electrician) | ₹ 1,024 | ₹ 933 | ₹ 794 |
| Highly skilled | ₹ 1,111 | ₹ 1,024 | ₹ 933 |
Central government minimum wages for building construction, basic + variable dearness allowance, valid 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027. Area A includes Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur. These are the legal minimum for central-sphere work, not the market rate. Source: Chief Labour Commissioner (Central), notification for 1 October 2026 — check clc.gov.in.
Market rates by city
Mumbai
| Trade | ₹ per day |
|---|---|
| Mason (mistri) | ₹ 1,200 – 1,500 |
| Helper (beldar / labour) | ₹ 800 – 1,000 |
Market ranges checked November 2026 by F K Consultant, Mumbai. Rates vary with the area, the season and the size of the job. Other trades and cities (Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune) are being collected — share yours below.
Labour in a rate analysis
Labour per unit of work (typical starting values used in BESTimate rate analysis):
| Work | Per | Mason | Helper | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (PCC / RCC) | 1 m³ | 0.17 | 2.0 | Bhisti 0.9 |
| Brick masonry | 1 m³ | 1.0 | 1.5 | Bhisti 0.3 |
| Plaster 12 mm | 10 m² | 0.6 | 0.9 | Bhisti 0.1 |
| Tile flooring | 10 m² | — | 1.0 | Tile fixer 1.0 |
| Painting | 10 m² | — | 0.25 | Painter 0.5 |
| Steel | 100 kg | — | 1.0 | Bar bender 1.0 |
Labour cost of a job = days × day rate. BESTimate does this for every item in Rate analysis — try it.
Local names of trades
| Trade | Also called |
|---|---|
| Mason | mistri, kadiya, raj mistri |
| Helper | beldar, bigari, mazdoor, coolie |
| Carpenter | sutar, shuttering carpenter |
| Bar bender | fitter, saria fitter, steel fixer |
| Tile fixer | tile mistri, flooring mistri |
| Painter | rang kaam |
| Plumber | nal-fitter |
| Electrician | wireman |
| Bhisti | water carrier, curing |
Tell us the rate in your area
Contractors and engineers: share what you pay. Rates are published only as ranges, never with your name.
Questions
What is the minimum wage per day for construction labour?
From 1 October 2026 the central government minimum wage for building construction in Area A cities (Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and others) is ₹840 per day for unskilled, ₹933 for semi-skilled, ₹1,024 for skilled and ₹1,111 for highly skilled workers.
What is the labour rate per day for a mason?
The legal minimum for a skilled worker such as a mason is ₹1,024 per day in Area A cities. In Mumbai, masons (mistri) are actually paid about ₹1,200–1,500 a day and helpers about ₹800–1,000 (November 2026).
How is labour cost calculated?
Labour cost = number of workers × days × day rate. For a work item, labour cost per unit = labour days per unit (e.g. 1.0 mason + 1.5 helper per m³ of brickwork) × day rates.
How often do these wages change?
Central minimum wages change twice a year, on 1 April and 1 October, when the dearness allowance is revised. This page shows the date of the figures it uses.
Need the full estimate, not just one item?
BESTimate makes the whole government-format estimate — Measurement, Abstract and Summary in Excel — with BMC, PWD, CPWD, MJP and CIDCO rates built in. Launching 26 November 2026 · first 99 to pre-register get 50% off for 6 months.
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Made free with BESTimate by F K Consultant · estimate.fkconsultant.com/calculators · approximate figures — check against your drawings and local rates.