Federal & State Regulations | Davis-Bacon Act - Massachussetts

State Info

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Numerous states follow the federal Davis-Bacon regulations for their construction projects. Other states have used the federal Davis-Bacon Act to develop their own set of rules. Usually the state act is called the Little Davis-Bacon Act. How closely the state rules follow the Federal requirements vary from state-to-state.

The Massachusetts prevailing wage laws require that employees on public works projects, except those who perform strictly supervisory functions, be paid a minimum hourly rate set by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Occupational Safety. There is no minimum threshold dollar amount before the prevailing wage law applies to a contract. Prevailing wage rates are set by DOS based upon the rates established in local collective bargaining contracts. DOS also determines whether the prevailing wage applies to a given public works project.