At a Glance
Quick Answer
Idaho does not have a state prevailing wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
Idaho repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1985. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Idaho
Idaho repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1985, making it one of the earliest western states to do so. For contractors bidding work in Idaho today, this means there is no state-mandated wage schedule for public works, and you are free to price labor at your actual market rates on state, county, and municipal projects. That flexibility can sharpen a competitive bid, but it also shifts full responsibility for labor pricing onto your estimating team rather than a published rate book.
The critical exception is federal funding. The federal Davis-Bacon Act still governs any construction project that receives federal dollars and exceeds $2,000. On those jobs you must pay the U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination for the project's county and trade classifications, and you must submit weekly certified payroll (WH-347) to the contracting agency. Misclassifying workers or pricing labor at open-market rates on a federally funded Idaho project is a common and expensive estimating mistake.
Before you bid, confirm the funding source in the solicitation. Federal-aid highway work, HUD-funded housing, and projects tied to federal infrastructure grants all trigger Davis-Bacon even when the owner is a local Idaho agency. Build the correct wage and fringe rates, plus the administrative cost of certified-payroll compliance, into your labor line for any federally assisted job, and treat purely state or private Idaho work as a free-market labor environment.
Details
Coverage Details
State Status
- Law
- Repealed in 1985
- Agency
- N/A — State law repealed
- Certified Payroll
- Not required at state level
Federal Davis-Bacon Coverage
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Idaho. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Reference
Key Facts
State prevailing wage law repealed in 1985
Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded projects over $2,000
Idaho was among the early western states to repeal its prevailing wage law
Enforcement
Penalties
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Resources
Related Tools & Templates
Turn wage rules into bid-ready alerts
Use ConstructionBids.ai to track matching public projects, save bid searches, and move wage-sensitive scopes into your estimating workflow.
FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
Does Idaho have a prevailing wage law?
No. Idaho does not have a state prevailing wage law. Idaho repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1985. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Idaho?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Idaho, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Idaho?
Idaho does not have a state-level certified payroll requirement. However, certified payroll (WH-347) is still required on any federal Davis-Bacon project in the state.
What are the penalties for prevailing wage violations in Idaho?
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Does Idaho have a state prevailing wage law for public projects?
No. Idaho repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1985, so state, county, and municipal projects have no mandated wage schedule. Contractors set labor rates at market. Only federally funded construction is subject to wage rules, through the federal Davis-Bacon Act.
When does Davis-Bacon apply to construction work in Idaho?
Davis-Bacon applies to any construction project in Idaho that receives federal funds and exceeds $2,000. This commonly includes federal-aid highways, HUD-financed housing, and projects backed by federal infrastructure grants, even when a local Idaho agency administers the contract and the work.
Do Idaho contractors need to file certified payroll?
Only on federally funded jobs. Idaho has no state certified-payroll requirement because it lacks a prevailing wage law. On Davis-Bacon projects, contractors must submit weekly certified payroll, typically Form WH-347, to the contracting agency documenting wages, fringes, and classifications.