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New York Prevailing Wage Compliance

Article 8 public works, NYSDOL and NYC Comptroller schedules, weekly certified payroll — all handled from one place.

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New York Labor Law Article 8 at a glance

Article 8 (sections 220–224-d) is the NY state law for prevailing wage on public works. It covers any job done for or on behalf of the State of New York, its political subdivisions, and public benefit corporations. Here's what you need to know.

Covers every kind of public works

State, county, city, town, village, school district, public authority. NYC has extra requirements under Labor Law 220 and Admin Code 6-109.

Weekly certified payroll, always

Every contractor and sub submits weekly to the awarding agency. Keep the records for 6 years.

Classify by the work they actually do

Pay the prevailing rate for the craft the worker actually performed. Paying a laborer rate for carpentry work is one of NYSDOL's top violations.

Break out supplemental benefits

NY calls fringes 'supplemental benefits.' Itemize them: health, pension, vacation, annuity, training. Cash to worker or into a bona fide plan.

Post the schedule on site

Put the prevailing wage schedule up where workers can see it. English, and Spanish too where it applies.

Project thresholds

Article 8 kicks in on public works contracts above statutory thresholds (generally $35,000 for NY State, lower for some municipalities).

What CertifiedPayrollPro handles for New York

Everything you need for NY-compliant certified payroll on public works.

NY certified payroll reports

MPWR and PW-series reports that meet NYSDOL and NYC awarding agency rules.

Wage rate checks

We match worker pay to the right NYSDOL or NYC Comptroller schedule by craft and county.

Supplemental benefit tracking

Break out supplementals (health, pension, annuity, vacation, training) the way Article 8 wants it.

NYC vs state schedules

The right schedule applies automatically based on the project's location — Comptroller for the five boroughs, NYSDOL for everywhere else.

Classification checks

We flag possible misclassifications so you catch them before NYSDOL does.

Lydia runs compliance checks

Flags underpayments, missing supplementals, and wrong-schedule issues before you submit.

NYC vs NY State prevailing wage

Working inside the five boroughs? You answer to the NYC Comptroller, not NYSDOL.

FeatureNY State (NYSDOL)New York City
Issuing agencyNYSDOL Bureau of Public WorkNYC Office of the Comptroller
Governing lawLabor Law Article 8 (220)Labor Law 220 + NYC Admin Code 6-109
Schedule reissueAnnually July 1Varies by craft
Typical ratesStandard statewideHigher than upstate
Applies inAll 62 countiesManhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island
Audit bodyNYSDOL Bureau of Public WorkNYC Comptroller Bureau of Labor Law

Penalties for NY prevailing wage violations

NYSDOL and the NYC Comptroller come down hard on Article 8. Misclassify workers, underpay wages, or submit false certified payroll and the penalties add up fast.

Civil penalties

  • • Back wages owed to each underpaid worker
  • • Interest up to 16% per year on unpaid wages
  • • Civil penalty up to 25% of underpayment
  • • Withheld progress payments from awarding agency
  • • Awarding agency can cancel contract

Debarment & criminal

  • • 5-year debarment from public works (willful)
  • • Published on NYSDOL debarment list
  • • Criminal prosecution for falsified payroll
  • • Personal liability for officers/owners
  • • Reputational damage with awarding agencies

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New York Prevailing Wage FAQ

What is New York prevailing wage?

It's the minimum hourly wage — base rate plus fringes — you have to pay workers on NY public works jobs. Rates depend on craft, county, and project type under Article 8. NYSDOL publishes the rates for most of the state, and the NYC Comptroller publishes separate (usually higher) rates for the five boroughs.

What is New York Labor Law Article 8?

Article 8 is the NY state law that governs prevailing wage on public works. If you're on a state or municipal construction job, you pay the prevailing wage for the trade, submit certified payroll every week, and keep the records for six years. It applies to any work performed for or on behalf of a public entity.

What is the PW4 form?

Some NY awarding agencies use PW-series forms (PW4, PW30) for certified payroll. They all want the same info: worker name, trade, hours worked, gross wages, deductions, fringes, and a signed compliance statement. We build NY-compliant reports that satisfy NYSDOL and the NYC Comptroller.

Do NYC prevailing wage rates differ from NY State rates?

Yeah, they're different. The NYC Comptroller sets its own schedules for work in the five boroughs under NYC Administrative Code 6-109 and Labor Law 220. They're almost always higher than upstate rates. If the project's in NYC, you use the Comptroller's schedule, not NYSDOL's.

How often are NY prevailing wage schedules updated?

NYSDOL reissues annually on July 1. NYC Comptroller schedules reissue on different dates depending on the craft. You pay whatever schedule is in effect when the work's actually performed. We import the updated schedules and validate your payroll against the right one.

What are the penalties for NY prevailing wage violations?

Not kidding around. Back wages, interest up to 16% per year, civil penalties up to 25% of the underpayment, 5-year debarment for willful violations, and criminal prosecution in the worst cases. NYSDOL audits contractors hard and publishes the debarment list.

How are fringe benefits tracked for New York?

NY calls them 'supplemental benefits' — health, pension, vacation, training. You pay them either as cash added to wages or into bona fide benefit plans. The certified payroll has to itemize by benefit type. We track the breakdowns automatically.

Does CertifiedPayrollPro support New York certified payroll?

Yes. We build New York MPWR (multi-purpose wage record) certified payroll reports that meet NYSDOL and NYC awarding agency requirements. Pro plan and above. Fringe breakdowns, supplemental benefit tracking, and NY classification codes all handled.

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