How to Find the Prevailing Wage for Your Federal Project

Jul 24, 2025

Finding the right prevailing wage determination (WD) is the first compliance step for any federal construction project. Here's how to do it.

Step 1: Identify the Project Location

Davis-Bacon WDs are county-specific. Identify which county (or counties) your project is in. If work spans multiple counties, each county's WD applies to work done in that county.

Step 2: Identify the Construction Type

Determine which construction type applies: building, heavy, highway, or residential. If your project includes multiple types (e.g., a building with roads), you may need multiple WDs.

Step 3: Look Up the WD

Use this site's state and county lookup, or search by WD number. The WD number will also be in your contract documents — the contracting agency is required to incorporate the applicable WD into every covered contract.

Step 4: Verify the Revision

Always check the revision number. Use the WD that was current when your contract was awarded. Check the revision history to confirm you have the right version.

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