New Jersey prevailing wage rates

Two kinds of prevailing wage in New Jersey

Federal (Davis-Bacon). Construction contracts over $2,000 paid for or assisted with federal money pay the rates in a federal wage determination for the county and construction type. Those rates are on this site, county by county, and the weekly certified payroll is usually the WH-347.

State (New Jersey law). State and local public works pay the state's rates under New Jersey Prevailing Wage Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 and following, and N.J.A.C. 12:60 [NJDOL]. The agency is the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Wage and Hour Compliance.

A New Jersey project with federal money can be covered by Davis-Bacon and the state act. Then you meet both: the federal weekly certified payroll (WH-347) to your prime or agency, and the state filing to the public body and the Wage Hub. Your contract lists the determinations that apply.

New Jersey prevailing wage law at a glance

Which projects are covered

• Public work includes "construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, custom fabrication, duct cleaning, or repair work, or maintenance work, including painting, and decorating, done under contract and paid for in whole or in part out of the funds of a public body" [N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.26].
• Thresholds: contracts awarded directly by a municipality are covered at $19,375 or more (since July 1, 2024); for all other public entities, including boards of education and municipal utility authorities, the threshold is $2,000 [NJDOL].
• Projects assisted by state authorities such as the Economic Development Authority or the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency are covered too [NJDOL FAQ].

How state rates are set

Rates are based on collective bargaining agreements and vary by county and type of work. Official determinations are issued for specific projects at the public entity's request; the posted county rates are for information only [NJDOL].

"Applicable prevailing wage rates are those wages and fringe benefits in effect on the date the contract is awarded," and predetermined increases listed at award must also be paid [NJDOL].

Overtime

Workers must be paid in full at least twice a calendar month [NJDOL FAQ]. For fringe credit, NJDOL divides annual plan cost by 2,000 hours, and vehicles, phones, lodging and tools cannot be credited [NJDOL FAQ].

Contractor registration

Contractors and subcontractors must be registered to bid on or work on public works. Registration is $500 for one year or $750 for two, applied for online [NJDOL]. The first penalty for bidding or working unregistered can be up to $2,500 [NJDOL FAQ].

Davis-Bacon wage rates by county in New Jersey

Select a county for its federal wage determinations by construction type (building, residential, heavy, highway), with every classification's base and fringe rate.

• Atlantic County
• Bergen County
• Burlington County
• Camden County
• Cape May County
• Cumberland County
• Essex County
• Gloucester County
• Hudson County
• Hunterdon County
• Mercer County
• Middlesex County
• Monmouth County
• Morris County
• Ocean County
• Passaic County
• Salem County
• Somerset County
• Sussex County
• Union County
• Warren County

Federal data: SAM.gov general wage determinations, fetched October 7, 2026. For state rates, use the agency link above.

Certified payroll in New Jersey

Certified payroll each pay period, within 10 days of payday, to the public body and to NJDOL's Wage Hub. Each payroll period, within 10 days of the date wages were paid. System: NJ Wage Hub.

For New Jersey projects LevelWage prepares the WH-347 package with the federal checks. The MW-562 and Wage Hub formats are planned and not available yet, so today you file those yourself.

Read the full New Jersey certified payroll guide →