FYI: Maryland's Prevailing Wage Law

 Overview - Prevailing Wage for State Funded Construction Contracts

Overview
In government contracting, a prevailing wage is defined as the hourly wage, usually benefits and overtime, normally paid to the majority of workers, laborers, and mechanics within a particular area. Prevailing wages are established by regulatory agencies, such as government, for each public works trade and occupation, as well as by State Departments of Labor or their equals.

Annual Survey
The Prevailing Wage Unit compiles a list of registered contractors, contractor's associations and labor organizations who will be notified electronically when to voluntarily participate in the annual Prevailing Wage Rate Survey. The Commissioner encourages all interested groups to voluntarily electronically submit data detailing wage rates paid to workers on various types of construction in all localities in Maryland.

The Prevailing Wage Unit conducts an annual survey of wages paid throughout the State during the months of September and October. Contractors, subcontractors, trade associations, and labor groups who wish to participate in the survey must register with the Prevailing Wage Unit in order to be notified when the survey begins and ends. If you would like to be notified when the survey period begins, please register online. If you have not registered prior to the beginning of the survey period, you may still register online and participate in the survey at any time between September 1st and October 31st.

Prevailing Wage Law
The Prevailing Wage law regulates the hours of labor, rates of pay, conditions of employment, obligations of employers and duties of certain public officials under contracts and subcontracts for public works in Maryland.

Services Covered Under The Prevailing Wage Law
The Prevailing Wage law applies to a construction project valued at $250,000 or more if either of the following criteria are met:

1. the contracting public body is a unit of State Government or an instrumentality of the State, and there is any State funding for the project; or
2. the contracting public body is a political subdivision, agency, person or entity (such as a county) and the State funds 25% or more of the project including school construction.

Please see the State Finance and Procurement Article for more information regarding Services Covered Under the Prevailing Wage Law...

Overview - Prevailing Wage for State Funded Construction Contracts - Division of Labor and Industry