Oregon prevailing wage law
Whether Oregon 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 Oregon at a glance
- State prevailing wage law
- In forceORS 279C.800 to 279C.870
- Contract threshold
- Over $50,000Other amounts for some work
- Certified payroll
- Monthly
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
Oregon prevailing wage rules
- The law
- Oregon requires prevailing rates of wage on public works projects over $50,000 (ORS 279C.800 to 279C.870).Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Who it covers
- Public works of a public agency: the State, a political subdivision, a county, city, district, authority, public corporation or public entity (ORS 279C.800). Privately owned projects are exempt only if they use private funds, less than 25% of the square footage is used by a public agency, and less than $750,000 of public funds go in (ORS 279C.810(2)(c)).Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Threshold
- Does not apply to projects whose contract price does not exceed $50,000, counting all paid work and not donated work (ORS 279C.810(2)(a)). A privately owned project is covered if it uses $750,000 or more of public funds or a public agency will use 25% or more of it (ORS 279C.810(2)(c)).Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Agency
- Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI), Prevailing Wage Rate Unit (opens in a new tab)Source: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)BOLI's prevailing wage rate books and rate lookup; the rate depends on the trade, the county and the date the project was first advertised.Source: Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- Contractors and subcontractors file certified statements on BOLI's form with the public agency: the statements for each week a worker is employed go in once a month, by the fifth business day of the following month (ORS 279C.845).Filed with: the public agency.Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Registration
- Before starting work on a public works contract or subcontract, a contractor or subcontractor files a $30,000 public works bond with the Construction Contractors Board, with exceptions (ORS 279C.836).Source: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Federally funded work in Oregon
On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether Oregon'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 Oregon 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 Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- 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.
- Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 279C (2025 edition) (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated February 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, Prevailing Wage (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.