At a Glance
Quick Answer
Wyoming has an active prevailing wage law (Wyoming Prevailing Wage Act). Administered by Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards. Certified payroll is required. Federal Davis-Bacon applies to all federal projects.
Wyoming's prevailing wage law applies to public construction projects with costs estimated at $100,000 or more. The Department of Workforce Services establishes and publishes prevailing wage rates. The law covers state, county, and municipal projects.
Context
Prevailing Wage & Bidding in Wyoming
Wyoming maintains an active prevailing wage requirement under the Wyoming Prevailing Wage Act, administered by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards division. It applies to public construction projects estimated at $100,000 or more, covering state, county, and municipal work. For estimators, that $100,000 threshold is the line that changes how you price labor: at or above it you must pay the prevailing wage rates the Department establishes and publishes for each trade classification, and certified payroll is required to document compliance. Below the threshold you have more pricing flexibility, but confirm the project's estimated cost so you don't misjudge coverage.
Build your bid around the correct published rates from the start. Pull the applicable Wyoming wage determination for the project's location and classifications, price each labor line to that rate including any required fringe component, and add the administrative time to prepare and submit weekly certified payrolls accurately. Underbidding labor against the wrong or outdated rate erodes margin you cannot recover, and certified-payroll errors invite enforcement. Misclassifying workers into lower-paid trades is a frequent and avoidable pitfall.
Non-compliance carries real teeth: contractors face payment of back wages and potential debarment from public contracts, which can shut you out of future Wyoming public work entirely. On federally funded projects in Wyoming, Davis-Bacon also applies for contracts over $2,000, so verify whether state, federal, or both schemes govern; where both apply, the higher applicable rate generally controls and you must satisfy each program's payroll and reporting rules. Treat compliance hours and accurate rate research as estimable costs, not afterthoughts, so your bid protects both your margin and your eligibility to keep bidding public work.
Details
Coverage Details
State Law Details
- Law
- Wyoming Prevailing Wage Act
- Agency
- Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards
- Thresholds
- Public construction projects of $100,000 or more
- Certified Payroll
- Required
Federal Davis-Bacon Coverage
The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded or federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 in Wyoming. This includes projects funded by federal agencies, FHWA highway projects, HUD housing, and projects receiving federal grants.
Reference
Key Facts
Threshold is $100,000 for public construction projects
Department of Workforce Services publishes prevailing wage rates
Covers state, county, and municipal construction projects
Wyoming is one of the more conservative western states to maintain its prevailing wage law
Enforcement
Penalties
Contractors face payment of back wages and potential debarment from public contracts for non-compliance.
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 Wyoming have a prevailing wage law?
Yes. Wyoming has an active state prevailing wage law: Wyoming Prevailing Wage Act. Wyoming's prevailing wage law applies to public construction projects with costs estimated at $100,000 or more. The Department of Workforce Services establishes and publishes prevailing wage rates. The law covers state, county, and municipal projects.
Does Davis-Bacon apply in Wyoming?
Yes. The federal Davis-Bacon Act applies to all federally funded construction projects over $2,000 in Wyoming, regardless of state law. Contractors must pay the prevailing wage rate determined by the DOL for the project location.
Is certified payroll required in Wyoming?
Yes. Wyoming requires certified payroll on state prevailing wage projects. Additionally, certified payroll is always required on federal Davis-Bacon projects using form WH-347.
What are the penalties for prevailing wage violations in Wyoming?
Contractors face payment of back wages and potential debarment from public contracts for non-compliance.
What is the prevailing wage threshold for public projects in Wyoming?
The Wyoming Prevailing Wage Act applies to public construction projects estimated at $100,000 or more, covering state, county, and municipal work. At or above that amount you must pay published prevailing wage rates and maintain certified payroll. Verify the project's estimated cost early, since it determines coverage.
Who sets prevailing wage rates in Wyoming?
The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Labor Standards division, establishes and publishes prevailing wage rates by trade classification and administers the Act. Pull the current applicable determination for the project location before bidding, because pricing labor to outdated or incorrect rates directly erodes your margin and risks enforcement.
What happens if I don't comply with Wyoming prevailing wage rules?
Non-compliance can require payment of back wages to underpaid workers and lead to debarment from public contracts, removing your ability to bid future Wyoming public work. Accurate worker classification and timely, correct certified payroll are essential to avoid these costly enforcement outcomes.