PREVAILING WAGE

Rhode Island prevailing wage law

Whether Rhode Island 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 November 20, 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 Rhode Island at a glance

State prevailing wage law: In forceR.I. Gen. Laws ch. 37-13
Contract threshold: Over $1,000
Certified payroll: Monthly
Federal work: Davis-Bacon, over $2,000

Rhode Island prevailing wage rules

The law: Rhode Island requires prevailing wages on public works contracts over $1,000 (R.I. Gen. Laws 37-13-7).Source: Rhode Island General Laws § 37-13-7 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated December 21, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Who it covers: Construction, alteration or repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings or public works of the state, any political subdivision, or any public or quasi-public agency; also school bus transportation contracts (37-13-7).Source: Rhode Island General Laws § 37-13-7 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated December 21, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Threshold: Applies to every contract in excess of $1,000 (37-13-7).Source: Rhode Island General Laws § 37-13-7 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated December 21, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Agency: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab)Source: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Rates: Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)For construction, the applicable federal Davis-Bacon wage determination on SAM.gov, at the rates in effect on the award date and adjusted each July 1; DLT adds a retirement fringe schedule effective November 17, 2026.Source: Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Prevailing Wage (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
Certified payroll: Every contractor and subcontractor furnishes a certified copy of its payroll records to the awarding authority monthly, for all work in the preceding month, on DLT's form (road, highway and bridge work may use the federal form) (37-13-13).Filed with: the awarding authority (and DLT within 10 days of a request).Source: Rhode Island General Laws § 37-13-13 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated November 20, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Registration: Not confirmed
Apprentices: State public works contracts of $1,000,000 or more must employ apprentices at the apprentice-to-journeyman ratio the DLT apprenticeship council approves for each trade (37-13-3.1).Source: Rhode Island General Laws § 37-13-3.1 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated April 30, 2026 (opens in a new tab)

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

Federally funded work in Rhode Island

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

Book a demo

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.

Your next payroll could be your first one on Worklio.

Book a demo See pricing