What is Public Work?
Public work is all work, construction, alteration, repair or improvement that is executed at the cost of the state or any other local public agency. This includes, but is not limited to, demolition, remodeling, renovation, road construction, building construction, ferry construction and utilities construction. RCW 39.04.010.
What is Prevailing Wage?
Prevailing Wage is defined as the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime, paid in the largest city in each county, to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics. Prevailing wages are established, by the Department of Labor & Industries, for each trade and occupation employed in the performance of public work. They are established separately for each county, and are reflective of local wage conditions.
How Are Prevailing Wage Rates Developed?
Rates are developed from surveys and collective bargaining agreements.
Find out how L&I determines the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics for each trade and occupation employed in the performance of public works construction projects.
How are prevailing wages established and what is the process?
Trades are generally surveyed every three years to determine the prevailing wage rates.
- Contractors and unions are surveyed to determine the wages and benefits that are being paid for each job classification. This list is established using industrial insurance, Intent and Affidavit filing, and licensing data.
- Prevailing wage rates are calculated for each job classification based
on the survey data – such as carpenters, electricians, laborers,
etc. The method for calculating prevailing wage is as follows:
- Largest City in County – Majority Wage: If more than one-half of all hours reported in the largest city in a county are worked at one wage rate, then that majority wage rate becomes the prevailing wage for the whole county.
- Largest City in County – Average Wage: If there is no majority wage rate, then a weighted average wage is computed using data from the largest city in a county. The weight attached to each wage is the total number of hours reported to be worked at that wage.
- County Average: If no hours are reported in a county’s largest city, then a weighted average wage is computed using countywide data.
- Existing Wage Rate – Remains in Place: If no data is reported for the entire county, then the county’s old prevailing wage is retained as the new prevailing wage.
How often are prevailing wage rates published?
Prevailing wage rates are published the first business day in August and in February and take effect 30 days after publication. The publications are necessary to adjust the rates based on rate surveys, changes to the minimum wages, and changes to rates that are based on a union majority.
Note: Prevailing Wages established based on a collective bargaining agreements (CBA) may be adjusted up or down at the semi-annual wage publication based on changes to the CBA.
Determining the proper Public Works worker classification:
(Scope of Work — WACs 296-127-013XX)
The determination of a workers prevailing rate of wage depends on the nature of work that is performed, regardless of the worker’s job title. The links below identify, by title, the Scopes of Work available on a public works project. Clicking the link will take you to the Legislature site where the codified definition of the scope of work is available for review. After reviewing the scopes of works available if any doubts or questions regarding the proper classification of a particular duty, task or work process remains please contact the Prevailing Wage Office by:
- Phone: 360-902-5335.
- Email: pw1@lni.wa.gov.
- Mailing address: Department of Labor & Industries, P.O. Box 44540, Olympia, Wash. 98504-4540.
- Boilermakers.
- Brick Masons.
- Building Service Employees (Janitors, Waxers and Window Washers).
- Cabinet Makers.
- Carpenters.
- Carpenter Tenders.
- Carpet and Resilient Floor Layers.
- Cement Masons.
- Certified Asbestos Abatement Workers.
- Clean-up Laborers.
- Construction Site Surveyor.
- Diver and Diver Tender.
- Drywall Applicators (Drywall Nailers and Sheetrock Installers).
- Drywall Finishers (Tapers).
- Electrical Fixture Maintenance Workers.
- Electronic Technicians.
- Elevator Constructors.
- Fence Erectors and Fence Laborers.
- Flaggers.
- Glaziers.
- Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers.
- Heating Equipment Mechanics.
- Hod Carriers, Mason Tenders and Mortarmen.
- Industrial Power Vacuum Cleaner.
- Inland Boatman.
- Inside Wireman Electricans.
- Insulation Applicators.
- Ironworkers.
- Laborers.
- Laborers in Utilities Construction.
- Landscape Construction.
- Lathers.
- Marble Setters.
- Metal Fabricators.
- Millwrights.
- Operating Engineer (Equipment Operators).
- Outside Telephone Line Construction.
- Painters.
- Pile Drivers.
- Plasterers.
- Playground and Park Equipment Installers.
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.
- Power Line Clearance Tree Trimming.
- Power Line Construction Electricians.
- Refrigeration Mechanic.
- Remote Controlled Cleaning, Inspection and Sealing of Underground Sewer and Water Systems.
- Roofers.
- Sheet Metal Workers.
- Sign Makers and Sign Installers.
- Sprinkler Fitters.
- Stage Rigging Mechanics (Nonstructural).
- Stone Masons.
- Street Sweepers (Nonconstruction).
- Telecommunication Technicians.
- Terrazzo (Artificial Marble) Workers.
- Terrazzo Workers' Helpers, Tile and Marble Setters' Helpers (Finishers).
- Tile Setters.
- Tinting and Coating Installer.
- Traffic Control Stripers.
- Utilities Construction (Underground Sewers and Water Lines).
- Water Well Drillers, Exploration Drillers, Water Pump Installers, and Equipment Oilers.
These links go to the official Scopes of Work listings in WAC 296-127.
Look Up, Print and/or Download Journey Level Rates
Look up, print and/or download journey level rates for multiple trades in multiple counties.
Look Up, Print and/or Download Apprentice Rates
Look up, print and/or download apprentice rates by trade, county and program.
View Publication Correction Notifications
View the publication of all updates and corrections to any prevailing wage rate.
What Jobs Must Be Paid Prevailing Wage?
Look up all worker classifications that have defined wages for public works projects.
How to File a Wage Complaint
Learn about the rights of workers on public works projects and how to proceed if these rights are being violated.
How are Prevailing Wage Rates Developed
Find out how L&I determines the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics for each trade and occupation employed in the performance of public works construction projects.
Wage and Hour Surveys
Find out how L&I determines the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics for each trade and occupation employed in the performance of public works construction projects.
Schedule of Surveys
View the schedule of surveys from July 2006 to June 2012
About Intents & Affidavits
Learn about filing requirements, contract amount and when to file Intents and Affidavits for paying prevailing wage on public works projects.
New Contractor Reporting Requirements (EHB 2805)
New legislation requires contractors to report to L&I regarding certain project-specific items produced outside Washington. Contractors will report this data on the Affidavit of Wages Paid form.
Small Public Works Projects Alternate Process
The small public works alternate filing process has changed. The old forms for this process will not be accepted after October 1, 2007. Only a single contractor performing small work directly for the awarding agency, with no subcontractors, may use this alternate process.
Getting Started Filing
Learn the steps you need to take to start using the online Prevailing Wage Intents and Affidavits (PWIA) system to file your Intents and Affidavits.
File Intent & Affidavit Forms
Use our online system to file your Prevailing Wage Intents and Affidavits.
PWIA Customer Help
Get help using Prevailing Wage Intents and Affidavits (PWIA) online service by checking out common questions — and their answers — PWIA users have asked.
View Approved Intent & Affidavit Forms
Look up an Intent or an Affidavit filed by an employer/contractor for work done on a public works project.
New PWIA Filing System
Preview the upcoming improvements to the PWIA filing system.
