Prevailing Wage Information

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, through the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, determines prevailing wage rates for the construction industry and enforces the rates and classifications under heavy, highway and building construction projects of $25,000 or more when public funds are involved. For information about the Regulations for Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, see the PA Prevailing Wage Act or contact the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance by telephone at 800-932-0665.

The contractor must complete a Payroll Certification for Public Works Projects each week of the contract. If there is a week that the contractor did not perform any work, he/she is still required to submit a certification on which is written "no work completed during this time period." The rates on the Payroll Certifications must be compared with the rates as supplied with the bid package. Upon discovery of non-compliance of the Prevailing Wage requirements, there may be an immediate stop payment action on all pending invoices. The contractor will be notified in writing of the non-compliance and given a time limit for resolution. If the issue is not resolved, the Department of Labor and Industry and local wage inspector will be notified. Contractors that intentionally violate the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act (43 P.S. ss 165-11--165-17) may be debarred from contract awards for a period of 3 years. Downloadable Forms for reporting Weekly Payroll Certificate for Public Works Projects are available at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry web site.