Davis-Bacon Wage Determination Lookup: How to Find Your Rates on sam.gov

What Is a Wage Determination?

A wage determination (often abbreviated “WD”) is a schedule of prevailing wage rates published by the Department of Labor. It specifies the minimum hourly base pay and fringe benefit rate for each labor classification — electricians, carpenters, laborers, operators, and so on — in a specific geographic area.

Wage determinations are tied to two things: location (typically by county) and type of construction (building, heavy, highway, or residential). A highway project in Los Angeles County will have different prevailing rates than a building project in rural Ohio.

Understanding the WD Number Format

Every wage determination has a unique identifier. A typical WD number looks like this:

• CA — The two-letter state abbreviation (California)
• 2025 — The year the WD was issued or last revised
• 0001 — A sequential number identifying the specific WD

How to Look Up a Wage Determination on sam.gov

Step 1: Navigate to the Search

Go to sam.gov/wage-determinations and use the search tool.

Step 2: Set Your Filters

Filter by state, county, and construction type (Building, Heavy, Highway, or Residential). You can also search by WD number directly if you have it from your contract.

Step 3: Review the Results

Click into the matching WD. You'll see a table of labor classifications with base hourly rates and fringe benefit rates, plus footnotes explaining special conditions.

Step 4: Verify Against Your Contract

Compare the WD number on sam.gov with the one in your contract. If the WD has been revised since award, check with the contracting officer to confirm which rates apply.

Reading the Rate Table

Each row in the rate table lists:

• — Classification — The trade or labor category (e.g., “Carpenter,” “Power Equipment Operator — Group 3”)
• — Basic Hourly Rate — The minimum cash wage per hour
• — Fringe Benefits — The minimum fringe amount per hour, payable to plans or as cash

If you cannot find a matching classification, you may need to request a conformance from the contracting officer.

Common Pitfalls

• —Wrong construction type — selecting "Building" when your project is "Heavy" gives wrong rates
• —Wrong county — the work site location determines the county, not your office address
• —Using outdated rates — always verify you're referencing the correct revision
• —Ignoring footnotes — they often contain zone pay differentials and special classifications