Updated September 4, 2026 · New York prevailing wage / public works
New York certified payroll: state system vs. federal WH-347
Subcontractors working New York public works jobs often deal with two separate certified payroll obligations at once — New York State's own electronic reporting system for state and municipal prevailing wage work, and the federal WH-347 for any job with federal funding. Mixing them up, or assuming one covers the other, is a common source of compliance gaps.
New York State's electronic certified payroll system
New York State Labor Law Article 8 requires certified payroll records on public work contracts, and the New York State Department of Labor has moved this reporting online rather than accepting mailed paper forms. Contractors and subcontractors submit payroll data electronically for each pay period on covered projects — state agencies, and New York City has its own related requirements for city-funded work.
Where it differs from the federal process
| Federal (Davis-Bacon) | New York State | |
|---|---|---|
| Applies to | Federally funded/assisted construction | New York public work contracts under Labor Law Article 8 |
| Wage source | Federal wage determination (SAM.gov) | New York State prevailing wage schedule, set by county and trade |
| Submission format | WH-347 + Statement of Compliance | State electronic certified payroll reporting, not the federal form |
| Enforcement body | U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division | New York State Department of Labor (and NYC agencies for city-funded work) |
A project with both federal and New York State public funding can require both a WH-347 submission and the state's own electronic reporting — check with the contracting agency rather than assuming either one substitutes for the other.
Fringe benefits: the recurring compliance trap
New York prevailing wage rates, like the federal schedule, are published as a base hourly rate plus a separate supplemental benefits (fringe) rate. That fringe amount is owed per hour actually worked on the covered project — it isn't a flat weekly stipend, and it doesn't average out over a pay period. A worker who logs overtime, works split shifts across job classifications, or moves between a covered project and other work in the same week needs their fringe obligation recalculated against actual hours each time. Standard payroll platforms generally aren't built to do that recalculation automatically, which is why fringe shortfalls are one of the most common findings in New York prevailing wage audits.
Frequently asked
Does FringeTrack file directly with New York State's system?
Not yet — FringeTrack currently generates the federal WH-347 and Statement of Compliance, with the fringe-per-hour shortfall check built in. Direct state-format support (New York, California DIR, Washington L&I, New Jersey Wage Hub) is on the roadmap. If New York filing is what you need most, tell us — it directly shapes what gets built next.
Is New York City different from the rest of the state?
NYC-funded public work carries its own related prevailing wage and reporting requirements layered on top of state law — always confirm the specific reporting portal and schedule required by the awarding city agency rather than assuming statewide rules cover it.
Can I use the same payroll data for both federal and state reporting?
The underlying hours, rates, and fringe data are usually the same source records, but the wage determination each system checks against can differ — the federal wage determination for the project versus New York's prevailing wage schedule for that county and trade. Confirm both apply, and don't assume one wage rate satisfies both requirements.