Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Rate Calculator
Calculate total prevailing wage costs for Pennsylvania public works projects per the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act (Act 442 of 1961). Includes base wage, fringe benefits, overtime premiums, and total project labor costs.
Formula
Straight-Time Wages (per worker/week):
ST_Wage = Base_Rate × Regular_Hours
Overtime Wages (per worker/week):
OT_Wage = (Base_Rate × 1.5) × OT_Hours
Pennsylvania prevailing wage overtime applies the 1.5× multiplier to the base wage rate only.
Fringe Benefits (per worker/week):
Fringes = Fringe_Rate × (Regular_Hours + OT_Hours)
Fringe benefits are paid at straight-time rate for both regular and overtime hours.
Employer Payroll Tax (per worker/week):
Payroll_Tax = (ST_Wage + OT_Wage) × Employer_Payroll_Tax_Rate
Payroll taxes apply to wages only; bona fide fringe benefit contributions are exempt.
Total Employer Cost (per worker/week):
Total_Cost = ST_Wage + OT_Wage + Fringes + Payroll_Tax
Effective All-In Hourly Rate:
Effective_Rate = Total_Cost_Per_Week ÷ (Regular_Hours + OT_Hours)
Project Total:
Project_Total = Total_Cost_Per_Worker_Per_Week × Number_of_Workers × Weeks
Assumptions & References
- Governed by the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act, Act 442 of 1961 (43 P.S. §§ 165-1 to 165-17), applicable to public works contracts exceeding $25,000.
- Overtime is defined as hours worked beyond 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, whichever triggers first, paid at 1.5× the base wage rate.
- Fringe benefits (health insurance, pension, vacation, holiday, apprenticeship training) are paid at the straight-time rate for all hours including overtime.
- Wage rates vary by county, trade classification, and project type (building, heavy/highway, residential). Always obtain the official determination from the PA Department of Labor & Industry.
- Employer payroll taxes default to 7.65% (FICA: 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). FUTA (0.6%) and PA SUTA (~3.68% for new employers) may be added as applicable.
- Bona fide fringe benefit contributions paid to third-party plans are not subject to FICA/FUTA per IRS rules; this calculator applies payroll taxes to wages only.
- Wage rates in the trade selector are illustrative regional averages for the Philadelphia/Pittsburgh metro area and do not substitute for official county-specific determinations.
- Reference: PA DLI Prevailing Wage Program | Act 442 Full Text