Plain-English walkthroughs of filing certified payroll the right way — the federal WH-347 and the state systems that trip up small subcontractors first. No jargon, no fluff.
The whole picture in one place — what certified payroll is, who files WH-347, the 2025 form changes, fringe benefit and annualization rules, and the mistakes that cause prevailing wage problems.
Read the guide → Federal · WH-347Step-by-step through every box — columns 1–9, fringe benefits, the Statement of Compliance, and the weekly deadline. Includes the free checklist.
Read the guide → First-timerJust won your first public works job? What prevailing wage means, what you're now responsible for, and the five things to do first.
Read the guide → Software · buyer guideWhat prevailing wage software should handle: rate checks, classifications, fringe math, WH-347, state certified payroll forms, and QuickBooks imports.
See the software → Alternative · LCPtrackerA fair comparison for small subcontractors deciding between a broad labor compliance platform and a lighter certified payroll workflow.
Compare options → Alternative · eBaconPayroll platform or compliance layer? When PrevailComply makes more sense for subs that want to keep QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, or Excel.
Compare options → California · DIR eCPRRegistration, monthly submission, the $100 records-production rule, and the separate up-to-$200 underpayment penalty.
Read the guide → New York · 2026As of January 1, 2026, NY prevailing-wage work files electronically every 30 days. Who's covered, the portal, the PRC number, and the $100/day penalties.
Read the guide → Illinois · personal liabilityMonthly IDOL filing, the new SB1344 late-filing fines, and why a missed certified payroll in Illinois can become a personal misdemeanor.
Read the guide → New Jersey · Wage HubFiling moved online: the Wage Hub, the 10-day deadline, Form MW-562, contractor registration, and penalties up to $5,000 plus 3-year debarment.
Read the guide → Washington · Intent & AffidavitThree filings bracket the job — Intent before work, certified payroll monthly through PWIA, and the Affidavit that has to clear before your retainage releases.
Read the guide → Pennsylvania · no state portalThe $25,000 threshold, weekly submission to each awarding body (there's no state portal), the 2-year records rule, and up to 3-year debarment.
Read the guide → Fear & fixesWithheld payments, daily fines, debarment, and False Claims Act risk — what's actually at stake, and exactly what to do if you've missed one.
Read the guide → Electrical · trade-specificApprentice ratios, journeyman vs. low-voltage classifications, fringe splits, and the errors that cost electrical subs the most on prevailing wage jobs.
Read the guide → Plumbing · trade-specificPlumber vs. pipefitter classifications, the "helper" trap, fringe splits, and how to file correctly when your crew does both DWV and gas piping.
Read the guide → HVAC · trade-specificSheet metal vs. pipefitter vs. controls — the multi-classification problem that makes HVAC the hardest trade to report correctly on the WH-347.
Read the guide →Generate a clean, print-ready federal certified payroll report — free, no signup.
More tools: Prevailing wage software · Prevailing wage fine calculator · Does QuickBooks do certified payroll?