PREVAILING WAGE

Ohio prevailing wage law

Whether Ohio 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 from the official sources listed at the end of this page; the oldest was read from an archived copy dated December 13, 2025. 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 Ohio at a glance

State prevailing wage law: In forceOhio Rev. Code 4115.03 to 4115.16
Contract threshold: Over $250,000Other amounts for some work
Certified payroll: MonthlyWeekly on contracts of four months or less
Federal work: Davis-Bacon, over $2,000

Ohio prevailing wage rules

The law: Ohio requires prevailing wages on public improvements over set cost thresholds (Ohio Rev. Code 4115.03 to 4115.16).Source: Ohio Revised Code 4115.03, Wages and hours on public works definitions (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated May 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Who it covers: Public improvements by the state, a political subdivision or an institution supported by public funds (4115.03(A)). Not public improvements of school district boards of education or educational service centers, some county and municipal hospitals, or projects where federal predetermined wages apply (4115.04(B)).Source: Ohio Revised Code 4115.04, Determination of prevailing wage - exceptions (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated June 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Threshold: Applies to new construction whose total estimated cost is more than $250,000, and to reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, repair, remodeling, renovation or painting over $75,000. Roads, streets, alleys, sewers, ditches and related work: more than $101,201 for new construction and more than $30,320 for the rest, amounts the Director of Commerce adjusts every even-numbered year (Ohio Rev. Code 4115.03(B), 4115.034).Source: Ohio Department of Commerce, Prevailing Wage Contractor Responsibilities (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated July 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Agency: Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance and Labor, Bureau of Wage and Hour Administration (opens in a new tab)Source: Ohio Department of Commerce, Prevailing Wage Contractor Responsibilities (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated July 10, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Rates: Not confirmed
Certified payroll: Each contractor and subcontractor delivers a certified copy of its payroll to the prevailing wage coordinator within two weeks after the initial pay date, then supplemental reports for each month; weekly if the contract is expected to last no more than four months (4115.071(C)).Filed with: the contracting public authority's prevailing wage coordinator.Source: Ohio Revised Code 4115.071, Prevailing wage coordinator (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated December 13, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Registration: Not confirmed

Not confirmed: no official source settled it on the check date, so none is shown.

Federally funded work in Ohio

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

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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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