In United States government contracting, a prevailing wage is defined as the hourly wage, usual benefits and overtime, paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics within a particular area. This is usually the union wage.[1]: 1
Prevailing wages are established by regulatory agencies for each trade and occupation employed in the performance of public work,[2] as well as by State Departments of Labor or their equivalents.
Prevailing wage may also include other payments such as apprenticeship and industry promotion.
In the United States, the Davis–Bacon Act of 1931 and related amendments pertain to federally funded projects. There are also 32 states that have state prevailing wage laws, also known as "little Davis–Bacon Acts". The rules and regulations vary from state to state.
As of 2016, the prevailing wage requirement, codified in the Davis–Bacon Act, increases the cost of federal construction projects by an average of $1.4 billion per year.[3]: 1