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New Jersey prevailing wage and certified payroll

New Jersey has its own prevailing-wage law (Prevailing Wage Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.) on top of federal Davis-Bacon.

State law

Prevailing Wage Act, N.J.S.A. 34:11-56.25 et seq.

Agency

NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development, Wage & Hour Compliance (Public Contracts) · wage schedules

Applies to contracts

$2,000 (state, counties, boards of education, authorities); $19,375 for contracts awarded directly by a municipality (eff. July 1, 2024, adjusted periodically)

Certified payroll

Weekly certified payroll (MW-562 or equivalent) to the public body within 10 days of payment AND filed online in the NJ Wage Hub (njwages.nj.gov), mandatory under P.L. 2023, c.138. Public Works Contractor Registration ($500/yr) required before bidding.

In CertifyWage

MW-562 PDF produced from the same week as the WH-347.

Notes

Rates and overtime provisions are per trade/county in the NJDOL determinations.

Federal rules that apply in New Jersey too

Davis-Bacon

Federal and federally assisted construction contracts over $2,000 carry a wage determination from SAM.gov. Every laborer and mechanic is paid at least the listed base rate plus fringe for the classification of work actually performed.

Weekly certified payroll

The contractor and every subcontractor submit a certified payroll each week work is performed, with a signed Statement of Compliance. The U.S. Department of Labor’s optional form is the WH-347 (Rev. January 2025).

Overtime

On covered contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires time and a half of the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Fringe benefits are not multiplied.

Records

Payroll records are kept for at least three years after the work is completed and made available to the contracting agency and the Department of Labor on request.

The contracting agency’s instructions control when they differ from this summary. Get started or see every state.