Prevailing wage in Wisconsin

Who and what this applies to

Wisconsin’s repeal of state prevailing-wage requirements for state building and state-funded highway projects, as explained by the administering state agencies.

Thresholds and scope

The agencies identify September 23, 2017 as the key advertisement date for the 2017 Act 59 repeal; do not apply that repeal to an older project without checking its advertisement date and governing requirements.

The rules

• The Department of Administration states that 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 repealed state prevailing-wage requirements for state building projects advertised after September 23, 2017. Its notice expressly distinguishes this from the earlier changes under 2015 Act 55. Source
• WisDOT states that state prevailing-wage requirements no longer apply to state-funded highway projects advertised for bid after September 23, 2017; projects advertised before the repeal are unaffected. The repeal does not remove applicable federal Davis-Bacon requirements. Source

Primary sources

• Wisconsin Department of Administration: 2017 Wisconsin Act 59 notice
• Wisconsin Department of Transportation: prevailing wage compliance and repeal transition

Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. This guide covers the projects and rules stated above.

Back to Wisconsin contractor law · Prevailing Wage topic guide.