Wage and Hour Survey

The Prevailing Wage Program has started new wage and hour surveys to set prevailing wage rates for several residential construction trades. View the survey schedule to see the order in which trades will be surveyed.

The second round of surveys includes seven trades. The survey will be open to companies and other employers who employed construction workers on public or private residential projects. The survey covers all work performed from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023. 

The deadline to submit a survey is June 30, 2024. 

Trades surveyed

Wage rates established for each county

L&I is required to gather all hours worked in each county separately. When the results are calculated, we will publish separate rates for each county.

Inside or outside the largest city

The hours worked inside the largest city must be gathered separately from the hours worked outside the largest city for each county where work was performed. Please refer to the list of largest cities in each of Washington’s 39 counties.

"Residential construction" means construction, alteration, repair, improvement, or maintenance of single family dwellings, duplexes, apartments, condominiums, and other residential structures not to exceed four stories in height, including basement, when used solely as permanent residences. It does not include the utilities construction (water and sewer lines), or work on streets, or work on other structures (e.g., for recreation and business.) See WAC 296-127-010 (9).

Two categories of residential construction?

Please report wage and hour information separately, for the following two categories.

1. Affordable housing, weatherization, and shelters

This category includes the work performed for the following projects:

  • Affordable housing, including permanent supportive housing and transitional housing, which may include common spaces, community rooms, recreational spaces, a management office, or offices for the purposes of service delivery; or
  • Weatherization and home rehabilitation programs for low-income households; or
  • Homeless shelters and domestic violence shelters.

2. Other Residential Projects 

  • Please report hours worked for all other residential projects separately, which do not fall into the categories listed above for “Affordable housing, weatherization, and shelters.”

    Survey participation

    L&I identified registered contractors who represented workers in these trades, or whose license status would allow the company to perform this work during the survey period. These contractors will be mailed a survey announcement letter. Interested parties may also fill out a survey on behalf of contractors, see WAC 296-127-019 (4)(c&d).

    Survey participation is voluntary but the results are used to establish prevailing wages that accurately reflect current wages for residential construction in your area.

    We offer the option to file survey forms online or using a paper form.

    Online survey form

    1. Print and read the online survey instructions. 

    2. Click on the link to the trade your organization has information to share. If you need to report information for more than one trade, please fill out separate surveys.

      a) Residential Carpenters.
      b) Residential Drywall Applicators.
      c) Residential Drywall Tapers.
      d) Residential Glaziers.
      e) Residential Insulation Applicators.
      f) Residential Painters.
      g) Residential Soft Floor Layers.

    3. Completed surveys must be received by June 30, 2024.

    Print a paper wage survey for the residential construction occupations

    1. Print and read the survey instructions for filing a paper survey. 
    2. Click on the link to the trade your organization has information to share. If you need to report information for more than one trade, please fill out separate surveys.
      a) Residential Carpenters.
      b) Residential Drywall Applicators.
      c) Residential Drywall Tapers.
      d) Residential Glaziers.
      e) Residential Insulation Applicators.
      f) Residential Painters.
      g) Residential Soft Floor Layers.

    Completed survey forms need to be returned by the due date June 30, 2024. You may return the survey by mail or you may scan and email a copy to PWSurvey@Lni.wa.gov.

    Additional information about the surveys