Prevailing Wage

Know the Law  (Law Changes Effective July 1, 2011)

Significant changes to state prevailing wage laws go into effect on July 1, 2011. This section provides prevailing wage statutes and administrative rules. Frequently Asked Questions, the division's 'Dictionary of Occupational Classifications and Work Descriptions for use on all Public Works Projects in the State of Wisconsin' (which outlines the typical duties of each job classification). This section also includes miscellaneous information, such as the 'Consolidated List of Debarred Contractors', payment and calculation of straight and over time wages, a pamphlet on prevailing wage rate laws and classification of workers.

Find Forms and Contact the Equal Rights Division

This section provides downloadable versions of all prevailing wage forms used by public entities, contractors, unions, and employees working on prevailing wage projects. This includes applications for prevailing wage rate determinations and subjourney rates, affidavits of compliance, complaint form, and local union wage and employment report. Telephone number, fax number, and email contact for the division are in this section.

Apply for a Prevailing Wage Project Determination

This section explains under what circumstances a public construction project or a publicly funded private construction project requires a prevailing wage rate determination and it provides a downloadable version of the application.

NEW: A requester may complete the Application for Prevailing Wage Rate Determination on line and immediately print the requested prevailing wage rate determination along with the required attachments.

Report and View Certified Payroll Records

Any contractor who worked on a prevailing wage project during the period January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011, must file certified payroll reports on line. In this section these contractors submit their payroll records and the public may view these records. The on line certified payroll reporting requirement was discontinued recently for all work completed on prevailing wage projects on or after July 1, 2011.

Search for Project, County, Initial and Final Determinations

In this section, the public may view specific prevailing wage project determinations and find the hourly wage rates contractors must pay construction trades on specifically named projects. This section also lists prevailing wage rates by county for the various construction trades and project types, which can be used for general reference purposes. None of these public view rates are meant for project bidding purposes. Contractors must only use the actual project determination for bidding purposes. The Initial Determinations appear on the website in about October or November and reflect the proposed rates for the next year. For the ensuing 30 days, interested parties have the opportunity to submit corrections to the Initial Determinations. Prevailing Wage Final Determinations are issued on January 1st of each year.

Complete Annual Prevailing Wage Survey

Every year from about May through July, the division conducts a survey of contractors who work on construction projects in Wisconsin. The results of this survey generate the prevailing wage rates for each construction trade in each county for five different project types. (The public may view the project types and rates in the "Project, County, Initial and Final Project Determinations" section above.) This section includes a downloadable survey application, Frequently Asked Questions About the Survey and other information regarding the annual prevailing wage survey.