Prevailing Wage Objection Period Ends April 9

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Published March 17th, 2026

Detected March 18th, 2026

Summary

The Missouri Division of Labor Standards announced that April 9, 2026, is the deadline for objecting to the Annual Prevailing Wage Order. This order establishes minimum wage rates for workers on public works construction projects in Missouri.

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What changed

The Missouri Division of Labor Standards has issued a notice reminding stakeholders that April 9, 2026, is the final day to submit objections to the state's Annual Wage Order. This order, which sets prevailing wage rates for public works projects exceeding $75,000, is determined annually based on contractor wage surveys and filed by March 10. Preliminary rates are available on the department's website.

Regulated entities, primarily construction firms and employers involved in public works projects in Missouri, should be aware of this objection deadline. While the notice does not impose new obligations, it serves as a reminder for those who may wish to contest the established prevailing wage rates for specific counties or occupational classifications before the final order is issued by July 1. No specific actions are required for entities that do not intend to object.

What to do next

Review the Annual Wage Order for any potential objections by April 9, 2026.
Ensure compliance with prevailing wage rates for public works projects exceeding $75,000.

Source document (simplified)

Prevailing Wage Objection Period Ends April 9

March 17, 2026

Jefferson City – April 9, 2026, is the deadline for objecting to the Division of Labor Standards' Annual Wage Order. Each year, Missouri's prevailing wage rates are determined based on information provided through Contractor's Wage Surveys. The deadline for submitting surveys is Jan. 31 and the rates are filed with the Missouri Secretary of State's Office by March 10.

Missouri's Prevailing Wage Law establishes a minimum wage rate that must be paid to workers on Missouri public works construction projects valued at more than $75,000, such as bridges, roads, and government buildings. The prevailing wage rate differs by county and for different types of work.

State law requires that all workers working on public works projects be paid the proper prevailing wage rate. Prevailing wage rates are determined by actual hours worked, for a particular occupational title (classification/trade) in each individual county throughout the state.

The rates must be incorporated into contract specifications for all public works jobs. This is the minimum wage rate required for the project but employers are free to pay a higher rate of pay.

Every year, the Division of Labor Standards will release a final Annual Wage Order by July 1. The Annual Wage Order lists the prevailing wage rates in each county for the applicable occupational categories for the next year. The rate is calculated based on information received from Contractor's Wage Surveys, in which contractors voluntarily provide information about their projects that allows the division to calculate the prevailing wage. If the necessary 1,000 hours for each occupational title are not submitted, the department uses wage calculations supplied by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) within the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Preliminary wage rates for individual counties can be viewed on the department website at https://laborwebapps.mo.gov/dls/prevailingwage.