State Wage Tools
State Wage Tools › Pennsylvania › Prevailing Wage
All Pennsylvania tools

Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Act requires that workers on covered public works construction projects be paid the prevailing wage for their trade classification; rates are determined and administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Bureau of Labor Law Compliance. — Source: Pennsylvania DLI — Prevailing Wage

Pennsylvania public works

Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Guide

Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Act covers public works construction contracts and requires trade-specific minimum wages. Rates are determined by the Bureau of Labor Law Compliance within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. This guide covers how to determine coverage, find the correct rate, and calculate overtime.

Trade rates not shown here: Prevailing wage rates are issued per trade classification and project location by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Labor Law Compliance. Always obtain the current wage determination from the Bureau before beginning work.

Is your project covered?

Pennsylvania's Prevailing Wage Act applies to public works construction contracts meeting the coverage requirements. Public works includes construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, or repair of a public work — any facility financed in whole or in part by public funds. Contact the Pennsylvania DLI Bureau of Labor Law Compliance to confirm coverage for a specific project.

How to find the correct rate

  1. Identify the trade or craft classification for each worker.
  2. Identify the project location (county).
  3. Request a wage determination from the Pennsylvania DLI Bureau of Labor Law Compliance.
  4. Confirm the determination's effective date covers the period of work.

Overtime calculation formula

Pennsylvania prevailing wage overtime is calculated at 1.5 times the base rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Fringe benefits (health, pension, vacation, training) are paid at straight time for overtime hours unless the wage determination specifies otherwise.

Prevailing wage overtime formula

OT pay = (base rate × 1.5) + fringe rate Example: base $43/hr, fringe $17/hr OT pay = ($43 × 1.5) + $17 = $64.50 + $17 = $81.50/hr

What this does not determine

Sources and verification

Rules are drawn from the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act (43 P.S. §§ 165-1 to 165-17) and the Pennsylvania DLI Bureau of Labor Law Compliance prevailing wage page. Actual rates must be obtained directly from the Bureau.