Federal Davis-Bacon is not the only rule that applies here. Certified payroll is filed at least monthly through L&I's online Prevailing Wage Intent and Affidavit (PWIA) system, not the federal WH-347. That runs on top of, not instead of, the federal WH-347 whenever the project also has federal money in it.
Washington at a glance
| Detail | Washington requirement |
|---|---|
| Governing law | RCW 39.12 |
| Enforcing agency | Washington L&I |
| State system | PWIA (Prevailing Wage Intent and Affidavit), online |
| Filing cadence | At least monthly |
| Before work starts | Statement of Intent to Pay Prevailing Wages |
| Penalty for nonpayment | $5,000 minimum or 50% of violation, plus 1%/month interest |
- RCW 39.12 sets Washington's own prevailing wage requirement, covering every state and locally funded public works project regardless of size.
- Certified payroll is filed at least monthly through L&I's online Prevailing Wage Intent and Affidavit (PWIA) system, not the federal WH-347.
- A separate Statement of Intent to Pay Prevailing Wages has to be filed with L&I right after a contract is awarded, before work even starts.
- Records must be kept at least three years after project completion.
- Penalties for nonpayment start at a $5,000 minimum or 50% of the violation amount, whichever is greater, plus 1% monthly interest.
Washington L&I: Prevailing Wage Rates
What this means for your paperwork
Federal money on a Washington job does not excuse the WH-347. It runs alongside whatever Washington itself requires. Certified Payroll only handles the federal side: it checks the rate against the live SAM.gov wage determination and fills out the WH-347 with its Statement of Compliance. It does not file Washington's own state form, so budget for that as a separate step if this project needs it.
Frequently asked
Does Washington have its own prevailing wage law?+
Yes. RCW 39.12 sets Washington's own prevailing wage requirement, covering every state and locally funded public works project regardless of size.
Does Certified Payroll file Washington's state certified payroll form?+
No. Washington's own filing runs through L&I's online PWIA system on at least a monthly cadence, plus a separate Statement of Intent that has to go in before work even starts, both entirely apart from the federal WH-347. Certified Payroll only handles the federal side: it checks the rate against the SAM.gov determination and fills out the WH-347 with its Statement of Compliance automatically whenever a Washington project also has federal money in it. The PWIA filing and the upfront Statement of Intent with L&I are still yours to handle separately, on Washington's own schedule.
This is a general informational summary, not legal advice, and covers state-level rules only. Verify current requirements with Washington's labor department or a qualified compliance advisor before relying on it.