North Carolina prevailing wage
North Carolina prevailing wage vs Davis-Bacon
North Carolina has no state prevailing wage law, so only federal Davis-Bacon applies — and only when a project is federally funded. Here is what that means for a bid.
Does North Carolina have a prevailing wage law?
No. North Carolina does not have a state prevailing wage law, so there is no state prevailing wage rate to compare against Davis-Bacon. North Carolina is absent from the U.S. Department of Labor's state prevailing wage threshold table.
What applies instead
Only federal Davis-Bacon (or a Davis-Bacon Related Act) applies in North Carolina, and only when the project receives federal funding that carries prevailing wage requirements. Purely state- or locally-funded public work in North Carolina has no prevailing wage floor unless a local ordinance imposes one.
Which governs
With no state prevailing wage law, federal Davis-Bacon governs whenever it applies through federal funding. When no federal prevailing wage requirement is attached, no prevailing wage applies in North Carolina.
Guardrail
This page is an estimator aid, not an official determination. Confirm the wage determination incorporated into the contract and any state schedule named by the owner before submitting a bid.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does North Carolina have a prevailing wage law in 2026?
No. North Carolina has no state prevailing wage law. It does not appear in the U.S. Department of Labor's state prevailing wage threshold table.
Does Davis-Bacon apply to North Carolina projects?
Federal Davis-Bacon applies to North Carolina projects only when the project is federally funded under Davis-Bacon or a Davis-Bacon Related Act. Otherwise, there is no prevailing wage requirement in North Carolina.
Is there a prevailing wage threshold in North Carolina?
There is no state prevailing wage threshold because North Carolina has no state prevailing wage law. Only the federal Davis-Bacon $2,000 contract trigger applies on federally funded work.
Official sources