At a Glance
Quick Answer
Oklahoma does not have a state prevailing wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
Oklahoma repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1995. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Oklahoma
Oklahoma repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1995, so there is no state-mandated wage floor for public construction. For most state, county, and municipal work in Oklahoma, you bid labor at competitive market rates and are not bound to a published wage schedule or certified-payroll regime. This generally simplifies estimating: you price crews to your actual labor costs and local market conditions rather than to a government-determined rate. The practical risk is not over-pricing labor against a rate book that does not exist.
The important exception is federal money. Whenever a project in Oklahoma is funded in whole or part by federal dollars and exceeds $2,000, the federal Davis-Bacon Act governs. On those jobs you must pay the U.S. Department of Labor wage determination for the project's county and classification, and you must submit weekly certified payroll (Form WH-347) to the contracting agency. Federally assisted highway, water, housing, and similar work all commonly carry Davis-Bacon, so read the solicitation and funding source carefully before you price labor.
The most common bidding pitfall in a repealed-law state is assuming every public job is wage-free and then discovering a federal funding trigger after award. That mistake erases margin, because Davis-Bacon rates and fringe obligations are often well above local open-shop wages. Before finalizing your Oklahoma bid, confirm the funding source, pull any referenced wage determination, and build certified-payroll administration into your overhead. When no federal nexus exists, you can bid leaner with confidence.
Details
Coverage Details
State Status
- Law
- Repealed in 1995
- 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- N/A — State law repealed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 Oklahoma. 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State prevailing wage law repealed in 1995
Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded projects over $2,000
Oklahoma was among the southwestern states to repeal in the 1990s
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 Oklahoma have a prevailing wage law?
No. Oklahoma does not have a state prevailing wage law. Oklahoma repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1995. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Oklahoma?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Oklahoma, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma?
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Does Oklahoma have a state prevailing wage law?
No. Oklahoma repealed its state prevailing wage law in 1995 and has not reinstated it. State and locally funded public construction is bid at market labor rates with no state wage schedule. Only federally funded projects exceeding $2,000 are subject to wage requirements, under the federal Davis-Bacon Act.
Do I need to file certified payroll on Oklahoma public projects?
Not for purely state or locally funded work, since Oklahoma has no state certified-payroll mandate. However, on any federally funded project over $2,000, Davis-Bacon requires weekly certified payroll (Form WH-347) submitted to the contracting agency for your crews and every subcontractor.
How does Davis-Bacon affect bidding in Oklahoma since the state law was repealed?
When federal funds touch a project over $2,000, you must pay the U.S. Department of Labor wage determination for that county and trade, regardless of state repeal. Those federal rates often exceed local open-shop wages, so confirm the funding source and pull the determination before pricing labor.