New Jersey prevailing wage law
Whether New Jersey 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 New Jersey at a glance
- State prevailing wage law
- In forceN.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.
- Contract threshold
- $2,000Other amounts for some work
- Certified payroll
- After each pay period
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
New Jersey prevailing wage rules
- The law
- New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act requires the Commissioner's craft rates on public works funded in whole or in part by a public body.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Who it covers
- Construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, repair or maintenance work done under contract and paid for in whole or in part by a public body, including municipal utility authorities and boards of education; also work on premises at least 55% leased by a public body where the leased part exceeds 20,000 square feet.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Threshold
- Contracts awarded directly by municipal government are covered at $19,375 or more (effective July 1, 2024); for every other public body, including boards of education and municipal utility authorities, the threshold is $2,000.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, NJ Wage Hub: Certified Payroll Reporting Tool (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Agency
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance (Public Contracts Section) (opens in a new tab)Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)The Division's prevailing wage rate determinations by craft and county.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- New Jersey Wage Hub (opens in a new tab)Every contractor and subcontractor submits certified payroll records to the public body for each employee within 10 days of paying wages; since August 2023 they are submitted online through NJ Wage Hub (P.L. 2023, c.138).Filed with: the public body, online through NJ Wage Hub.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Registration
- NJ Division of Wage and Hour Compliance, contractor registration (opens in a new tab)All contractors and subcontractors who bid on or work on a construction-related public works project must register with the Department (Public Works Contractor Registration Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.48 et seq.); public bodies require proof of registration from bidders and listed subcontractors.Source: New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Register with the Department (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Federally funded work in New Jersey
On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether New Jersey'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 New Jersey 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
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- 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.
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Prevailing Wage Rates on Construction-Related Public Works Projects (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, NJ Wage Hub: Certified Payroll Reporting Tool (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Register with the Department (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.