District of Columbia prevailing wage law
Whether the District of Columbia requires prevailing wages on public construction, from what contract size, who sets the rates, and what contractors file. Each fact links its official source and the date it was checked.
Prevailing wage in the District of Columbia at a glance
- Prevailing wage law
- In force40 U.S.C. § 3142 (Davis-Bacon Act)
- Contract threshold
- Over $2,000
- Certified payroll
- Weekly
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
District of Columbia prevailing wage rules
- The law
- The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to construction contracts over $2,000 to which the District of Columbia is a party (40 U.S.C. § 3142).Source: 40 U.S.C. § 3142 (Davis-Bacon Act) (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Who it covers
- Contracts to which the District of Columbia is a party for construction, alteration or repair, including painting and decorating, of its public buildings and public works (40 U.S.C. § 3142(a)).Source: 40 U.S.C. § 3142 (Davis-Bacon Act) (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Threshold
- Applies to contracts in excess of $2,000 (40 U.S.C. § 3142(a)).Source: 40 U.S.C. § 3142 (Davis-Bacon Act) (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Agency
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (opens in a new tab)Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, the single location the U.S. Department of Labor names for them.Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- The contractor or subcontractor submits certified payrolls weekly, for each week of covered work; the prime contractor is responsible for its subcontractors' payrolls (29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)(ii)(A)).Filed with: the contracting agency, or the applicant, sponsor or owner that keeps the records where the agency is not a party.Source: 29 CFR 5.5, Contract provisions and related matters (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Registration
- Not confirmed
Not confirmed: no official source settled it on the check date, so none is shown.
More for District of Columbia contractors
WORKLIO HCM
Prevailing wage and certified payroll in Worklio HCM
Set up prevailing wage rates by project, location and classification: your team assigns each worker's classification and apprentice step, and payroll applies the rates. Fringe benefits are calculated as cash or plan contributions, union dues and benefit packages are deducted with remittance reports by local, apprentices are paid at progressive rates by level, and WH-347 certified payroll reports carry job costing segments. Workers' comp class codes are set per job and employee. Union, prevailing wage, and certified payroll is available as an add-on to any plan.
See the union, prevailing wage, and certified payroll add-on
Prevailing wage in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
The statute, agency page or federal rule behind each fact, as checked.
- 40 U.S.C. § 3142 (Davis-Bacon Act) (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- U.S. Department of Labor, Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- 29 CFR 5.5, Contract provisions and related matters (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm current requirements with the relevant agency or your advisor. You remain responsible for paying the required rates and filing on time.