Nevada’s Prevailing Wage Rates Adopted for Federal Davis-Bacon Projects

Las Vegas, NV - The Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner (OLC) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has formally accepted Nevada’s proposal to adopt the State’s prevailing wage rates for federal Davis-Bacon projects. 

This milestone achievement ensures that workers across Nevada will receive consistent wages regardless of whether they are employed on state-funded or federally funded public works projects. Contractors will also benefit from streamlined compliance, as they will now follow a single set of prevailing wage rates across all public projects, regardless of funding source. 

“This is a significant step forward for Nevada’s workforce and construction industry,” said Nevada Labor Commissioner Brett Harris. “For more than two years, we have worked collaboratively to align state and federal standards. The result is a more efficient system that promotes fairness, reduces administrative burden, and strengthens wage consistency for workers statewide.” 

The adoption is retroactive to prevailing wage rates published on October 1, 2025. Moving forward, Nevada will provide all prevailing wage updates directly to USDOL, ensuring simultaneous adoption at both the state and federal levels for annual updates and individual classification amendments. 

Impact on Nevada’s Public Works Sector

Prevailing wage projects represent a substantial and ongoing investment in Nevada’s infrastructure and workforce. As of March 31, 2026, there are 1,948 active public works projects underway across the state, with a combined estimated value exceeding $17.18 billion. These projects span transportation, education, water systems, and vertical construction, supporting thousands of skilled workers and contractors in both urban and rural communities. 

The Office of the Labor Commissioner maintains and publishes more than 150 prevailing wage classifications across four surveyable regions, reflecting the diverse labor markets throughout Nevada. Current average prevailing wages for journeyman workers underscore both the scale of investment and the strength of the construction economy, with rates averaging $70.69 per hour in the Northern region, $71.51 in Washoe County, $87.17 in the Southern region, and $88.52 in Clark County. Together, these figures highlight the critical role prevailing wage policy plays in ensuring competitive compensation, sustaining a skilled workforce, and supporting economic stability across Nevada’s multi-billion-dollar public works pipeline. 

Benefits of the New Alignment

• Consistency for Workers: Uniform wage rates across federal and state projects
• Simplified Compliance: Contractors operate under one wage schedule
• Administrative Efficiency: Coordinated updates between Nevada and USDOL
• Economic Stability: Predictable labor costs across a $17+ billion project pipeline 

This alignment positions Nevada as a national leader in modernizing prevailing wage administration while supporting both workforce stability and industry growth. 

For more information on prevailing wage rates and public works requirements, visit the Nevada Office of the Labor Commissioner website at labor.nv.gov. 

About the Office of the Labor Commissioner

The Office of the Labor Commissioner, a division of the Department of Business and Industry, is the principal wage and hour and labor regulatory agency for the State of Nevada. It is the mission of this office to resolve labor-related problems in an efficient, professional, and effective manner. This includes educating employers and employees regarding their rights and responsibilities under the law, to promote the growth of business in Nevada. Additionally, it includes taking enforcement action when necessary, to ensure that Nevada’s workers are treated fairly and compensated for all time worked. 

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