Federal Prevailing Wage Overtime

Federal prevailing wage regulations require the payment of overtime to workers employed on a public works project only if the worker has worked more than 40 hours in a week.  This requirement comes from the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (CWHSSA) and applies only to projects with federal funding.

State prevailing wage regulations may differ.  For example, in Washington State, overtime for prevailing wages is required when the worker has worked over 8 hours in a day, or over 40 hours in a week (RCW 49.28.010).  The only exception to overtime for hours over 8 in a day in Washington State is if there is a written agreement between the worker and the contractor for the worker to work 4 ten hour days and be paid at straight time for such hours (WAC 296-127-022).