Prevailing Wage Rates in Construction

Prevailing wage rates are the minimum rates contractors must pay on State-funded public works projects estimated to cost $50,000 or more.

Included are only projects for which the public authority (state agency or local government) obtained all or some state funds specific to that project. Excluded are projects where state funding is not dedicated to the project (i.e. Revenue Sharing funds). Maintenance work or projects where state and local employees do the work are excluded. If in doubt, please contact us.

Construction Wage Survey Forms

US Wage & Hour Davis-Bacon Survey

Prevailing Wage Determination

Each construction project funded in whole or in part by State funds and for which the contract amounts to $50,000 or more is required to have a prevailing wage determination attached to the bid document. Each determination includes the minimum hourly wages and benefits the construction workers are to receive while working on that particular project. The official determination must be posted at the work site where the wages apply.

Certified Payroll

Certified payroll information must be submitted each payroll period by those companies required to pay State of Maine Prevailing Wage. Covered contractors and subcontractors performing work on state funded projects must furnish a statement with respect to the wages paid each employee during the preceding pay period. Contractors must submit a copy of all payrolls to the general contractor and the letting agency, accompanied by a signed "Statement of Compliance" indicating that the payrolls are correct and complete proving each laborer or mechanic has been paid not less than the proper Prevailing Wage rate for the work performed.

The proper completion and submission of the Certified Payroll Form meets that requirement. The Bureau of Labor Standards reviews the information to determine that employees have received legally required wages and fringe benefits.

Download Certified Payroll Form

Prevailing Wage Rates

Prevailing wage rates can be found below. You can select the county and identify the category for the project:

  • Building 1 - As of 2022, the Bureau no longer collects data from businesses classified as performing the work in the Building 1 subcategory. For projects in the Building 1 subcategory, please use the Building 2 rates.
  • Building 2 - Other than one or two family homes
  • Highway and Earthwork
  • Heavy and Bridge

2024 Prevailing Wage Rates

Construction projects should be classified into the categories above using the document at this link: Construction Classifications (pdf). 

Archived Prevailing Wage Rates

Other Resources