Two kinds of prevailing wage in New York
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 York law). State and local public works pay the state's rates under New York Labor Law Article 8 (section 220 and following) [Labor Law 220]. The agency is the NYS Department of Labor, Bureau of Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement.
A New York project with federal money can be covered by Davis-Bacon and Article 8 at the same time. Then you meet both: the federal weekly certified payroll (WH-347) to your prime or agency, and the MPWR filing to NYSDOL. Your contract lists the wage determination and the PRC schedule that apply.
New York prevailing wage law at a glance
Which projects are covered
- NYSDOL applies a three-part test: a public agency is a party to the contract; the project primarily involves construction-like labor and is paid for by public funds; and the work product's primary purpose is the use or benefit of the general public [NYSDOL FAQ].
- Some private projects are covered when public funds are at least 30 percent of total construction project costs and the project costs are over $5 million [Labor Law 224-a].
- New York City projects are enforced by the NYC Comptroller [NYSDOL FAQ].
How state rates are set
The prevailing rate is determined every year and applies from July 1 to June 30 [Labor Law 220]. Contractors are responsible for paying updated rates retroactive to July 1 [NYSDOL].
Each project gets a wage schedule with a Prevailing Rate Case (PRC) number, requested by the agency [NYSDOL]. There is no bid-date lock: NYSDOL says contractors must pay newly determined rates even if they are not in the project's schedule [NYSDOL FAQ].
Overtime
Public work is limited to 8 hours a day and 5 days a week except in an extraordinary emergency [Labor Law 220]. "All work in excess of eight hours in a day is overtime," and a 4 x 10 schedule without overtime is not allowed unless NYSDOL grants a dispensation (form PW 30) [NYSDOL FAQ].
Contractor registration
Since December 30, 2024, contractors and subcontractors on public work and covered private projects must be registered [NYSDOL]. The fee is $200 ($100 for MWBEs), and registration lasts two calendar years [NYSDOL].
Davis-Bacon wage rates by county in New York
Select a county for its federal wage determinations by construction type (building, residential, heavy, highway), with every classification's base and fringe rate.
- Albany County
- Allegany County
- Bronx County
- Broome County
- Cattaraugus County
- Cayuga County
- Chautauqua County
- Chemung County
- Chenango County
- Clinton County
- Columbia County
- Cortland County
- Delaware County
- Dutchess County
- Erie County
- Essex County
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Genesee County
- Greene County
- Hamilton County
- Herkimer County
- Jefferson County
- Kings County
- Lewis County
- Livingston County
- Madison County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Nassau County
- New York County
- Niagara County
- Oneida County
- Onondaga County
- Ontario County
- Orange County
- Orleans County
- Oswego County
- Otsego County
- Putnam County
- Queens County
- Rensselaer County
- Richmond County
- Rockland County
- Saratoga County
- Schenectady County
- Schoharie County
- Schuyler County
- Seneca County
- St Lawrence County
- Steuben County
- Suffolk County
- Sullivan County
- Tioga County
- Tompkins County
- Ulster County
- Warren County
- Washington County
- Wayne County
- Westchester County
- Wyoming County
- Yates County
Federal data: SAM.gov general wage determinations, fetched October 7, 2026. For state rates, use the agency link above.
Certified payroll in New York
Electronic certified payroll to NYSDOL on MPWR, at least every 30 days. At least once every 30 days, starting with work from January 1, 2026. System: NYSDOL Certified Payroll portal (MPWR).
For New York projects LevelWage prepares the WH-347 package from your payroll, with the federal checks. Direct MPWR XML output is planned and not available yet, so today you key in or upload to MPWR yourself.
Read the full New York certified payroll guide
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between New York prevailing wage and Davis-Bacon?
When did New York start electronic certified payroll?
Do I still send payrolls to the agency or prime?
Do I file a payroll for weeks with no work?
Where do the county rates on this page come from?
Sources
- NY Labor Law 220
- NY Labor Law 220-j (electronic payroll)
- NY Labor Law 220-i (contractor registry)
- NY Labor Law 224-a (covered private projects)
- NYSDOL: Public work and prevailing wage
- NYSDOL: Electronic payroll
- NYSDOL: Electronic payroll FAQ
- NYSDOL: Article 8 FAQ
- NYSDOL: Contractor registry
LevelWage prepares reports for your review. This page explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice. When a rule matters to a decision, read the source and your contract.