Certified payroll in Ohio

The short version

How to file certified payroll in Ohio

1. When work starts, give the public authority's prevailing wage coordinator a schedule of your pay dates [R.C. 4115.071].
2. Deliver "a certified copy of the contractor's or subcontractor's payroll, within two weeks after the initial pay date, and supplemental reports for each month thereafter." If the contract is expected to last no more than four months, file weekly [R.C. 4115.071(C)].
3. On the first pay date, give each non-union employee written notice of their classification, rate and the coordinator's identity [R.C. 4115.05].
4. Before final payment, file an affidavit with the public authority stating you fully complied, and keep records for 1 year after completion [R.C. 4115.07].

What goes on it

Each payroll shows the worker's name, current address, last four digits of the Social Security number, daily hours and weekly total, hourly rate, job classification, fringe payments and deductions, and a certification that it "is correct and complete and that the wage rates shown are not less than those required by the contract" [R.C. 4115.071(C)].

Overtime

After the first 40 hours worked for the employer on all projects, the employee is paid an extra half of the basic hourly rate from the rate schedule, on top of the prevailing wage [O.A.C. 4101:9-4-08].

Apprentices

Apprentices may work only under a program registered with the Ohio apprenticeship council, and the ratio cannot exceed the one in the collective bargaining agreement [R.C. 4115.05]. If apprentices exceed the ratio, all of them are treated as improperly classified [O.A.C. 4101:9-4-16].

Penalties for late or wrong payrolls

• An underpaid employee can recover the shortfall plus 25 percent of it, and the employer pays a penalty of 75 percent of the shortfall to the state [R.C. 4115.10].
• Violating the payroll filing rule is a second-degree misdemeanor for a first offense [R.C. 4115.99]. Intentional violators are barred from public work for 1 year, or 3 years for a repeat within 5 years [R.C. 4115.133].

What changed recently

• Since July 21, 2025, the wage schedule may be posted at the site or on the internet where employees can reach it [R.C. 4115.07].

Federal projects in Ohio

Ohio's law does not apply to projects where federal funds bring federal predetermined wages, so a federally funded Ohio project is usually Davis-Bacon only, with the weekly federal certified payroll (WH-347) to your prime or agency.

For the federal side, see how to fill out the WH-347 and the Ohio Davis-Bacon rates by county.

Forms and official links

• Ohio prevailing wage rates portal
• Ohio Revised Code chapter 4115
• Ohio Administrative Code chapter 4101:9-4