Vermont prevailing wage law
Whether Vermont 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 Vermont at a glance
- State prevailing wage law
- In force29 V.S.A. § 161(b)
- Contract threshold
- Over $100,000Other amounts for some work
- Certified payroll
- Not confirmed
- Federal work
- Davis-Bacon, over $2,000
Vermont prevailing wage rules
- The law
- Vermont requires prevailing wages plus a 42.5% fringe on State construction projects over $100,000 and on some projects over $200,000 funded at least half by the State (29 V.S.A. § 161).Source: Vermont Statutes, 29 V.S.A. § 161 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated April 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Who it covers
- State projects over $100,000, and construction projects over $200,000 that are at least 50% funded by a capital construction act or the Cash Fund for Capital and Essential Investments (29 V.S.A. § 161(b)); not Agency of Transportation or Forests, Parks and Recreation projects (§ 161(d)). The Department of Labor's 2026 rate schedule describes the coverage as 'any project authorized or funded, in whole or part, by the State of Vermont Capital Construction Act' over $100,000.Source: Vermont Statutes, 29 V.S.A. § 161 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated April 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Threshold
- State projects with a construction cost exceeding $100,000; projects at least 50% funded by a capital construction act or the Cash Fund for Capital and Essential Investments when the construction cost exceeds $200,000 (29 V.S.A. § 161(b)).Source: Vermont Statutes, 29 V.S.A. § 161 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated April 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Agency
- Vermont Department of Labor (opens in a new tab)Source: Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont State Construction Prevailing Wage Rate Schedule (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Rates
- Rate determinations (opens in a new tab)The Department of Labor's Vermont State Construction Prevailing Wage Rate Schedule (posted July 1, 2026): the mean wage from its occupational employment and wage survey plus a fringe of 42.5% of wage (§ 161(b)).Source: Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont State Construction Prevailing Wage Rate Schedule (opens in a new tab), checked October 6, 2026
- Certified payroll
- Not confirmed
- Registration
- Not confirmed
Not confirmed: no official source settled it on the check date, so none is shown.
Federally funded work in Vermont
On a project whose federal funding carries Davis-Bacon, the federal rules apply whatever the state law says. Whether Vermont'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 Vermont 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
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
The statute, agency page or federal rule behind each fact, as checked.
- Vermont Statutes, 29 V.S.A. § 161 (opens in a new tab), read from an archived copy dated April 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont State Construction Prevailing Wage Rate Schedule (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.