At a Glance
Quick Answer
Wisconsin does not have a state prevailing wage law. Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded construction projects over $2,000.
Wisconsin repealed its state prevailing wage law in 2017 as part of the 2017-2019 state budget. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Wisconsin
Wisconsin no longer has a state prevailing wage law. It was repealed in 2017 as part of the 2017-2019 state budget, making Wisconsin one of the last Midwest states to eliminate its statute. There is no state-published wage schedule, no state certified-payroll requirement, and no state agency setting rates for state, county, or municipal construction. For a contractor bidding non-federal public work in Wisconsin, this means you build labor cost from your own crews, market rates, and prevailing local conditions rather than from a mandated rate determination.
The repeal does not touch federal law. Any project that is federally funded or federally assisted in Wisconsin remains subject to the Davis-Bacon Act for contracts over $2,000. On those jobs you must pay the published Davis-Bacon wage determination for each trade classification, include the required fringe benefits, and file weekly certified payrolls. The biggest estimating risk in a repeal state is assuming all public work is now rate-free; federal pass-through funding on highway, transit, housing, or other assisted projects quietly re-imposes the full Davis-Bacon obligation, and underpricing that labor exposes you to back wages and debarment.
Practically, scrub each solicitation for its funding source before you set your labor line. For purely state- or locally-funded work, you have room to compete on your real cost basis, but watch for any wage language an owner inserts contractually even absent a statute. For federally funded work, load the correct Davis-Bacon rates, fringes, and the administrative hours needed to run compliant certified payroll. Because prevailing wage remains a recurring legislative topic, verify the current status near bid time so your assumptions stay accurate.
Details
Coverage Details
State Status
- Law
- Repealed in 2017
- 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- N/A — State law repealed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 Wisconsin. 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 2017 via state budget bill
Federal Davis-Bacon Act still applies to federally funded projects over $2,000
Wisconsin was one of the last Midwest states to repeal its prevailing wage law
Repeal was part of the 2017-2019 state budget alongside other labor law changes
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 Wisconsin have a prevailing wage law?
No. Wisconsin does not have a state prevailing wage law. Wisconsin repealed its state prevailing wage law in 2017 as part of the 2017-2019 state budget. Only federally funded construction projects are subject to Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Wisconsin?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Wisconsin, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Federal Davis-Bacon penalties apply to federally funded projects only.
Is prevailing wage still required in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin repealed its state prevailing wage law in 2017 through the 2017-2019 state budget bill. State and local public projects no longer carry a state-mandated wage schedule or certified-payroll requirement, though federally funded projects still fall under the Davis-Bacon Act.
When does Davis-Bacon apply to a Wisconsin construction project?
Davis-Bacon applies to any federally funded or federally assisted construction contract over $2,000, regardless of Wisconsin's repeal. This includes federal pass-through money on highway, transit, and housing work. On those jobs you must pay federal wage determinations and submit weekly certified payrolls.
Can I bid Wisconsin public work at market labor rates now?
For fully state- or locally-funded projects, yes, since no state wage schedule applies after the 2017 repeal. Price to your actual crew and market costs. Always confirm no federal funds are attached and check for owner-imposed wage terms before finalizing your labor estimate.