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PREVAILING WAGE

New York prevailing wage law

Whether New York 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.

Facts checked on October 6, 2026 against the official sources listed at the end of this page. For contractors and employers. General information, not legal advice: confirm the rules with the awarding body or the agency before you bid. Reviewed every year.

Prevailing wage in New York at a glance

State prevailing wage law
In forceN.Y. Labor Law art. 8 (§ 220 et seq.)
Contract threshold
No dollar threshold
Certified payroll
Every 30 days
Federal work
Davis-Bacon, over $2,000

New York prevailing wage rules

The law
New York requires prevailing wages and supplements on public work contracts of the state, public benefit corporations and municipal corporations (Labor Law § 220).Source: New York Labor Law § 220 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Who it covers
Contracts to which the state, a public benefit corporation, a municipal corporation or a commission appointed by law is a party, and public work done by a third party in their place (Labor Law § 220(2)); Article 8 also reaches some privately funded projects named by DOL (§§ 224-a, 224-d, 224-e, 224-f).Source: New York Labor Law § 220 (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Threshold
No dollar threshold: Article 8 applies to public work contracts of any size (U.S. Department of Labor state table: none).Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Dollar Threshold Amount for Contract Coverage Under State Prevailing Wage Laws (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Agency
New York State Department of Labor, Bureau of Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement (New York City Comptroller for city work) (opens in a new tab)Source: New York State Department of Labor, Bureau of Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Rates
Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)The Bureau's annual wage schedules, published July 1 with monthly corrections, retroactive to July 1. In New York City the Comptroller is the fiscal officer who sets the rates (Labor Law § 220(5)(e)).Source: New York State Department of Labor, Prevailing Wage Schedules (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Certified payroll
MPWR Certified Payroll portal (opens in a new tab)Payroll is reported electronically every 30 days. Since December 31, 2025 contractors and subcontractors on Article 8 projects submit certified payroll to NYSDOL through the Certified Payroll portal on MPWR; public work for or on behalf of New York City, and NYC-permitted roadway excavation, goes through NYC's own online certified payroll database instead. Labor Law § 220(3-a)(a)(iii) sets the 30 days (within 30 days of the first payroll and every 30 days after).Filed with: New York State Department of Labor, electronically; New York City work goes to NYC's online certified payroll database.Source: New York State Department of Labor, Electronic Payroll Submission (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Registration
NYSDOL Contractor and Subcontractor Registry (opens in a new tab)Since December 30, 2024 every contractor and subcontractor bidding on or performing construction work on Article 8 projects must register with NYSDOL before bidding or starting new work (Labor Law § 220-i).Source: New York State Department of Labor, Public Work Contractor and Subcontractor Registry (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026

Federally funded work in New York

On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether New York'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 York 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

Sources

The statute, agency page or federal rule behind each fact, as checked.

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.

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