Skip to content
Rubric Financial

Payroll

Certified Payroll & Davis-Bacon Compliance for Public Works

Federal Davis-Bacon and state prevailing wage laws require certified payroll filings on public projects. Here's the compliance framework.

By Aparna Devalla, CPA3 min · 5 slidesUpdated June 15, 2026

1 / 5

What Davis-Bacon Requires

  • Davis-Bacon Act (1931): federal law requiring contractors on federally-funded construction over $2,000 to pay prevailing wages.
  • Prevailing wage rates set by DOL by trade, by county. Updated periodically.
  • Certified payroll required: weekly filing (Form WH-347) for each project, listing all workers, hours, wages.
  • State equivalents: California (Labor Code §1771+), New York, Massachusetts, and others have similar laws — often broader than Davis-Bacon.

Use ← → keys, or swipe on mobile

Need help applying this to your business?

Talk to a partner at Rubric Financial — one business day response. We'll scope a plan tailored to your situation, with a fixed monthly fee.

Schedule a Consultation
CallSchedule