At a Glance
Quick Answer
North Carolina does not have a state prevailing wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
North Carolina has never enacted a state prevailing wage law. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in North Carolina
North Carolina has never enacted a state prevailing wage law, which simplifies one part of your bid but does not remove wage-rate risk entirely. For purely state or locally funded construction, you are free to price labor at your own market-driven rates, with no state-mandated wage schedule, no certified payroll requirement, and no state prevailing wage agency to register with or report to. For estimators, that means the labor burden on state and local public work reflects real local market conditions rather than a government-published determination.
The important exception is federal money. Whenever a North Carolina project is federally funded or federally assisted, the federal Davis-Bacon Act governs, applying to covered contracts above $2,000. On those jobs you must pay the applicable Davis-Bacon wage determination by trade, maintain certified payroll, and submit it to the contracting agency, exactly as in any other state. Federal infrastructure, housing, and transportation dollars frequently flow into North Carolina projects, so confirm the funding source during the bid phase rather than assuming a job is purely state-funded.
The practical pitfall is misreading a project's funding. A job advertised by a local authority may still carry federal grant money that triggers Davis-Bacon, and pricing it at open-market rates would leave you underwater on labor and exposed to federal back-wage and debarment penalties. During estimating, read the solicitation for any reference to federal funding, grants, or Davis-Bacon, pull the applicable federal wage decision when present, and price labor to whichever standard actually controls the work.
Details
Coverage Details
State Status
- Law
- No state prevailing wage law
- Agency
- N/A — No state prevailing wage program
- 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 North Carolina. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Reference
Key Facts
No state prevailing wage law has ever been enacted in North Carolina
Federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to federally funded projects over $2,000
North Carolina is one of the southeastern states that has never had state-level prevailing wage requirements
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 North Carolina have a prevailing wage law?
No. North Carolina does not have a state prevailing wage law. North Carolina has never enacted a state prevailing wage law. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in North Carolina?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in North Carolina, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in North Carolina?
North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Does North Carolina require prevailing wages on state-funded construction?
No. North Carolina has never enacted a state prevailing wage law, so state and locally funded construction is not subject to any state-mandated wage schedule or certified payroll requirement. Contractors may price labor at prevailing market rates. Only federally funded projects trigger wage-rate obligations through the Davis-Bacon Act.
When does Davis-Bacon apply to North Carolina projects?
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies whenever a North Carolina construction project is federally funded or assisted and the covered contract exceeds $2,000. On those jobs you must pay the applicable federal wage determination by trade, keep certified payroll records, and submit them to the contracting agency despite the absence of a state law.
How do I know if a North Carolina public job carries prevailing wage rules?
Check the funding source in the solicitation. A locally advertised project may still include federal grant or infrastructure dollars that trigger Davis-Bacon. Look for references to federal funding, grants, or wage determinations, and when present, pull the federal wage decision and price labor accordingly rather than at open-market rates.