At a Glance
Quick Answer
Missouri has an active prevailing wage law (Missouri Prevailing Wage Law (RSMo Sections 290.210-290.340)). Administered by Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards. Certified payroll is required. Federal Davis-Bacon applies to all federal projects.
Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law applies to public works construction projects valued over $75,000. Public bodies must obtain an Annual Wage Order from the Division of Labor Standards before advertising for bids. Wage rates are published by county.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Missouri
Missouri enforces the Missouri Prevailing Wage Law (RSMo 290.210-290.340) through the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards, and it applies to public works construction projects valued over $75,000. If you are bidding state, county, municipal, or school work above that threshold, you must price labor at the rates set in the Annual Wage Order for the county where the work is performed. Public bodies are required to include these rates in the bid specifications, so the determination you need is in the solicitation, organized by county and trade classification.
Procedurally, Missouri front-loads compliance steps that affect your schedule and overhead. Before starting work you must file the PW-2 notification form, and at project completion every contractor and subcontractor must submit an Affidavit of Compliance certifying that prevailing wages were paid. Certified payroll records are required, and the Annual Wage Order is published by July 1 each year, so verify which wage order governs your contract because mid-cycle rate changes can affect multi-phase work. Correct trade classification matters; misclassifying labor to a lower rate is a common and costly estimating error.
The risks of getting it wrong are concrete. Underpayment exposes you to back-wage liability and debarment from future public contracts, which can shut you out of an entire public-works pipeline. When a Missouri project also carries federal funding, both Davis-Bacon and the state law can apply, and you must pay the higher of the two rates trade-by-trade. Reconcile the state wage order against any federal wage determination before bid day and carry the more stringent figure in your labor estimate.
Details
Coverage Details
State Law Details
- Law
- Missouri Prevailing Wage Law (RSMo Sections 290.210-290.340)
- Agency
- Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards
- Thresholds
- Public works construction projects over $75,000
- Certified Payroll
- Required
Federal Davis-Bacon Coverage
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Missouri. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Reference
Key Facts
Applies to public works projects over $75,000
Annual Wage Order published by July 1 each year with county-level rates
Contractors must submit PW-2 notification form before beginning work
Affidavit of Compliance required from all contractors and subcontractors at project completion
Public bodies must include prevailing wage rates in all bid specifications
Enforcement
Penalties
Contractors may be debarred from public contracts for violations. Back wages and penalties must be paid to affected workers. Contractors must file affidavits of compliance.
Resources
Related Tools & Templates
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FAQ
Questions Contractors Ask
Does Missouri have a prevailing wage law?
Yes. Missouri has an active state prevailing wage law: Missouri Prevailing Wage Law (RSMo Sections 290.210-290.340). Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law applies to public works construction projects valued over $75,000. Public bodies must obtain an Annual Wage Order from the Division of Labor Standards before advertising for bids. Wage rates are published by county.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Missouri?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Missouri, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri requires certified payroll on state prevailing wage projects. Additionally, certified payroll is always required on federal Davis-Bacon projects using form WH-347.
What are the penalties for prevailing wage violations in Missouri?
Contractors may be debarred from public contracts for violations. Back wages and penalties must be paid to affected workers. Contractors must file affidavits of compliance.
What is the prevailing wage threshold for public works in Missouri?
Missouri's prevailing wage law applies to public works construction projects valued over $75,000. Below that figure, state prevailing rates are not triggered. Above it, you must pay the county-specific Annual Wage Order rates that the public body is required to include in the bid specifications.
What forms must Missouri prevailing wage contractors file?
Contractors must submit the PW-2 notification form before beginning work and an Affidavit of Compliance from every contractor and subcontractor at project completion. Certified payroll records must also be maintained throughout. These filings are administered by the Division of Labor Standards and are prerequisites to closing out a covered job.
Which wage order applies if my Missouri project spans multiple years?
Missouri publishes a new Annual Wage Order by July 1 each year. The wage order in effect when your project is bid or awarded generally governs, but confirm the controlling order with the public body. For long-running work, verify whether rate changes apply so your labor budget reflects the correct determination.