Texas prevailing wage law
Whether Texas 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 Texas at a glance
- State prevailing wage law
- In forceTex. Gov't Code ch. 2258
- Contract threshold
- No dollar threshold
- Certified payroll
- Kept for inspection, not filed routinely
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
Texas prevailing wage rules
- The law
- Texas requires prevailing wages on public works of the state and its political subdivisions, at rates each public body sets (Government Code ch. 2258).Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Who it covers
- Construction of a public work (building, highway, road, excavation, repair or other improvement) paid for in whole or in part from public funds, by or on behalf of the state or a political subdivision; not maintenance work or work done directly by a public utility (2258.002, 2258.021).Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Threshold
- No dollar threshold in Government Code chapter 2258.Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Agency
- The law names no state agency.Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- No statewide rate publication: the public body sets the rates for its own projects.Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- No filing: contractors and subcontractors keep a record of each worker's name, occupation and actual per diem wages, open at all reasonable hours to the public body's inspection (2258.024).Source: Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Registration
- Not confirmed
Not confirmed: no official source settled it on the check date, so none is shown.
Federally funded work in Texas
On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether Texas'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 Texas 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
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
The statute, agency page or federal rule behind each fact, as checked.
- Texas Government Code Chapter 2258, Prevailing Wage Rates (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.