How Often Are Wage Determinations Updated?
Nov 21, 2025
Wage determinations are living documents — they are updated to reflect changes in local prevailing wages over time. Understanding the update cycle is important for bid preparation and contract administration.
Annual Updates
The DOL Wage and Hour Division typically updates wage determinations on an annual cycle, usually issuing new revisions in the first quarter of each calendar year. However, not every county is updated every year — only counties where new survey data is available or where rates have changed significantly.
Off-Cycle Updates
WDs can be revised outside the annual cycle if a significant change in local wages warrants it, or if corrections are needed to address errors.
When Does a New Revision Apply to Your Contract?
The revision in effect at the time of contract award is the one that applies to your contract. If the WD is updated after award, you generally are not required to update wages unless your contract is modified within 90 days of the revision (under certain programs).
Always verify the current revision before bidding to ensure your labor cost estimates are accurate.