Minnesota prevailing wage law
Whether Minnesota 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 Minnesota at a glance
- State prevailing wage law
- In forceMinn. Stat. §§ 177.41-177.44
- Contract threshold
- $25,000 or moreOther amounts for some work
- Certified payroll
- After each pay period
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
Minnesota prevailing wage rules
- The law
- Minnesota requires prevailing wages on projects financed in whole or in part by State funds and on State highway contracts (Minn. Stat. §§ 177.41-177.44).Source: Minnesota Statutes § 177.43 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Who it covers
- Projects financed in whole or in part by State funds, whoever builds them, including when State funds pay for the land, predesign, design or demolition (§ 177.42, subd. 2); State highway construction contracts (§ 177.44). DLI names state-owned buildings, colleges and schools.Source: Minnesota Statutes § 177.42 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Threshold
- Does not apply where the estimated total cost is less than $25,000 and more than one trade is needed, or less than $2,500 and only one trade is needed (§ 177.43, subd. 7).Source: Minnesota Statutes § 177.43 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Agency
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (opens in a new tab)Source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Prevailing wage information (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)DLI's certified prevailing-wage rates by county: commercial construction rates for state-funded building projects, highway/heavy rates for state-funded public works.Source: Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Prevailing wage information (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- The contract requires the contractor and subcontractors to furnish the contracting agency copies of payrolls not more than 14 days after the end of each pay period (§ 177.43, subd. 3); DLI may also demand them (subd. 6).Filed with: the contracting agency (and DLI on demand).Source: Minnesota Statutes § 177.43 (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.
Federally funded work in Minnesota
On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether Minnesota's own law applies as well is in its coverage above: some state laws leave federally funded projects out.
- Davis-Bacon
- Federal Davis-Bacon labor standards apply to contracts over $2,000 for the construction, alteration or repair of public buildings or public works, or of work financed with federal funds under a law that requires Davis-Bacon, one of the Related Acts (29 CFR 5.5(a)).Source: 29 CFR 5.5, Contract provisions and related matters (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- On Davis-Bacon work, each contractor and 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)).Source: 29 CFR 5.5, Contract provisions and related matters (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
More for Minnesota 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
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- 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.
- Minnesota Statutes § 177.43 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Minnesota Statutes § 177.42 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, Prevailing wage information (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.