When May a Contractor Pay a Worker Less than the Prevailing Wage Rate?

Contractors and subcontractors in the State of Washington may pay workers less than the journey level prevailing wage rate on public works projects when the worker is enrolled in a state Department of Labor and Industries approved apprenticeship training program. All other workers, even if unskilled, must be paid journey level prevailing wages on public works projects.

Some public agencies in the State of Washington have apprenticeship utilization programs on their public works projects that require a certain percentage of the total labor hours on the project be performed by workers enrolled in a state approved apprenticeship training program. Some agencies have implemented such a program voluntarily. Other agencies are required by RCW 39.04.320 to have such an apprenticeship utilization program (Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of General Administration, all school districts, and institutions of higher education).