Nevada’s 2017-2018 construction wage survey released

The Office of the Nevada Labor Commissioner has released the 2017–2018 Construction Wage Survey for contractors throughout the state. 

Completed surveys are due by 5:00 pm on July 17, 2017, in order to be included in the process for determining the prevailing wage rates, which will be posted on October 1, 2017, as required by Nevada law.

Nevada law requires the Labor Commissioner to conduct an annual survey of contractors who have performed construction work during the past year in order to determine prevailing wage rates for the upcoming year. Prevailing wage rates are required to be paid on Nevada public works construction projects such as roadways and government buildings that cost more than $250,000.  The prevailing wage rate on school projects including the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) is 90% of the prevailing wage rate for each job classification in the County where the school construction is taking place.  Charter Schools are exempt from prevailing wage requirements.

Contractors can access the survey at www.labor.nv.gov. The website also contains convenient links to Nevada's prevailing wage laws, as well as state-required posters and other useful employment information. Individuals may also request a hard copy of the survey by calling the Office of the Labor Commissioner in Las Vegas at (702) 486-2650, or in Carson City at (775) 684-1890.

All contractors who have worked on construction projects may participate in the survey, even if they are not required to have a contractors’ license.  It is important for all contractors, particularly those working in rural areas, to participate as precisely as possible in the survey to ensure that the calculated prevailing wage rates accurately reflect the rates that are being paid in a particular County. If no rates are reported for a job classification in a County, the Labor Commissioner must rely on wage rates as reported for the nearest County that reported a rate for that particular job classification.

Participation by all contractors is key in order to ensure that the prevailing wage rates reflect the work performed and wages paid.

Contractors should keep several important facts in mind when completing the survey:

• All data from all contractors will be considered.  However, the information must be within survey requirements.  For example, work must be done within the specified dates and must be for a job classification included in the survey.
• Surveys should include wages paid on private and commercial projects.  To establish a rate reflective of what's been paid, the survey should include wages paid on all construction projects, not just publicly-funded projects.
• Rural projects should be included.  The size of a project is not important.  Where the work was performed and what rate contractors paid a specific job classification in a given location are the important factors.

For more information about the prevailing wage survey, please contact Lleta Brown, Chief Investigator at publicworks@laborcommissioner.com, or at (702) 486-2650.

About the Office of the Labor Commissioner

The Office of the Labor Commissioner is a division of the Department of Business and Industry. The Labor Commissioner strives to ensure that all workers are treated fairly under the law by investigating complaints of non-payment of wages, State minimum wage, overtime, and prevailing wage disputes. The office also monitors youth employment standards, including work hours and safe, non-hazardous working conditions.

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