Whether it's Federal Davis-Bacon, a state-specific prevailing wage law, or both, it's important to recognize that all states have requirements governing proper payment to workers on public work projects. It is the responsibility of all those involved, whether you are a local agency, developer, general contractor, or subcontractor, to stay up to date with frequently changing prevailing wage requirements.
Select your state from the drop-down menu to see the applicable prevailing wage laws in your area.
All workers employed on public works projects must be paid the prevailing wage determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations, according to the type of work and location of the project. The prevailing wage rates are usually based on rates specified in collective bargaining agreements. The Department of Industrial Relations and its various sub-entities oversee public works requirements. Labor Code Section 1771 provides a minimum threshold of $1,000. Labor Code Section 1771.5 provides a higher threshold of over $25,000 for construction work or over $15,000 for alteration, demolition, repair or maintenance work under the circumstances specified in that section.
