Nevada Prevailing Wage

Nevada's prevailing wage law (NRS Chapter 338) is administered by the Office of the Labor Commissioner and applies to public works projects with a total contract value of $100,000 or more. That threshold was lowered from $250,000 in 2019 via AB 136, expanding the universe of covered work, so do not rely on older assumptions when deciding whether a Nevada bid is subject to prevailing wages. On covered projects, price all labor at the published prevailing rates for the trade and locality, including required fringe components, and treat the correct classification of each worker as central to your estimate.

A defining feature of Nevada's program is that prevailing wage surveys are conducted only every two years, so rates can hold steady across a survey cycle. This relative stability helps with multi-phase estimating, but you must still confirm you are using the current determination tied to your contract. Certified payroll is required, and on public works covering construction, alteration, and repair you should align your reporting cadence with the contracting body's requirements from the outset to avoid withheld payments.

The enforcement stakes are significant. Violations expose you to back-wage liability, civil penalties for each violation, and debarment from public contracts for up to three years, which can foreclose a substantial share of Nevada's public market. When a project carries federal funding, Davis-Bacon applies alongside NRS 338 and you pay the higher rate by classification. Before bid day, verify the current biennial Nevada determination, confirm the $100,000 threshold is met, and reconcile any federal wage determination so your labor basis reflects the most stringent applicable rate.