Washington has no minimum dollar threshold for prevailing wage. All public works and maintenance contracts awarded by local governments, regardless of dollar value, must pay prevailing wages. L&I updates rates twice per year (February and August), effective 30 days after publication.
Washington has an active prevailing wage law (Washington Prevailing Wage Law (RCW 39.12)). Administered by Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Certified payroll is required. Federal Davis-Bacon applies to all federal projects.
Washington enforces one of the broadest prevailing wage regimes in the country, with no minimum dollar threshold. Under RCW 39.12, all public works and maintenance contracts awarded by state and local governments must pay prevailing wages regardless of contract value, administered by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). For bidding, that means every public job, large or small, carries the full wage obligation, so there is no small-project carve-out to plan around. Pull the applicable L&I rates by trade and county for each bid and price labor to them precisely.
Timing matters in Washington. L&I updates prevailing wage rates twice per year, in February and August, with new rates effective 30 days after publication. Because rates can shift mid-project, factor potential rate changes into longer-duration bids and confirm which schedule applies to your work. Before work begins you must file an Intent to Pay Prevailing Wages (PWIA), and you will also file an Affidavit of Wages Paid at completion, so build the cost of that filing process and ongoing certified payroll into your overhead. Accurate trade classification is essential, since misclassification is a leading source of audit findings and back-wage exposure.
The enforcement teeth are sharp. Contractors who underpay face back-wage liability, civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and debarment from public contracts, and workers may also bring private lawsuits. Given the no-threshold scope, even modest maintenance contracts can generate liability if you treat them as exempt. Confirm the current rate schedule, file your PWIA on time, classify every worker correctly, and keep disciplined certified payroll records to protect your margin and your standing for future Washington public work. Federal Davis-Bacon applies independently on federally funded projects, and you must pay the higher applicable rate.
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Washington. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Contractors face payment of back wages, civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and debarment from public contracts. Workers may also file private lawsuits.