The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) are a group of federal laws centered on the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931. They require contractors and subcontractors working on federally funded or federally assisted construction, alteration, or repair projects of public buildings or public works over $2,000 to pay laborers and mechanics no less than the locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits that the U.S. Department of Labor determines for that type of work in the area. The “Related Acts” extend these same prevailing‑wage requirements to construction projects that receive federal money indirectly, such as through grants, loans, or loan guarantees.
All contractors and subcontractors working on construction projects covered by the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts must submit a certified payroll report every week for each project while covered work is being performed. Form WH-347 is the U.S. Department of Labor’s standard certified weekly payroll form that contractors and subcontractors may use to meet this requirement, but they can also use an equivalent form that contains all the same information.
Both the online fillable WH‑347 and the annotated WH‑347 are available on the Wage and Hour Division’s WH‑347 page at the Department of Labor website. On that page you will see links labeled “WH‑347 (PDF),” “WH‑347 Form Annotated Guide (PDF),” and “Online Fillable WH‑347 Form.” The direct page is: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh347.
The fillable WH‑347 requires: (1) project information (project name, project/contract number, location, applicable wage determination number, week ending date); (2) contractor or subcontractor information (business name and address, whether prime or sub, certified payroll number); (3) for each worker, an identifying number (not the full Social Security number), name, status (journeyworker or registered apprentice), labor classification, daily hours worked on the project (straight time and overtime), total weekly hours, hourly straight‑time and overtime wage rates, fringe‑benefit credit taken, any cash paid in lieu of fringe benefits, gross earnings on the project, total gross earnings for all work that week, itemized deductions (tax, FICA, other), and net pay; and (4) a signed Statement of Compliance plus, where applicable, detailed information on each fringe‑benefit plan and hourly fringe credit claimed. Because the form is structured and fillable online and is paired with an annotated guide that visually explains each field, it helps users enter all required data in the correct place, avoids illegible handwriting, and reduces common omissions and mistakes in certified payroll reporting.
Using the online fillable WH‑347 is optional. The Davis‑Bacon regulations require covered contractors and subcontractors to submit accurate certified payroll information on a weekly basis, but they may use their own payroll format as long as it provides all of the information that WH‑347 captures. Form WH‑347 itself—including the new fillable version—is provided purely for their convenience.
The Wage and Hour Division’s toll‑free helpline at 1‑866‑4US‑WAGE (1‑866‑487‑9243) provides live assistance to both workers and employers. Staff answer questions about federal wage‑and‑hour laws (such as minimum wage, overtime, child labor, and government‑contract requirements like the Davis‑Bacon and Related Acts), explain rights and responsibilities, and provide guidance on how to file a complaint or obtain compliance assistance. According to the Department of Labor, the helpline is generally available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, though hours can vary by region.
The Government Contracts Compliance Assistance Toolkit is an online collection of resources to help employers with government contracts understand and comply with federal labor laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division. It includes: (1) plain‑language summaries of key requirements under the Davis‑Bacon and Related Acts, the McNamara‑O’Hara Service Contract Act, and Executive Order 13706 on paid sick leave for federal contractors; (2) downloadable posters explaining employee rights under the Davis‑Bacon Act, the Service Contract Act/Walsh‑Healey Public Contracts Act, and the paid‑sick‑leave executive order (in English and Spanish); and (3) links to Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) guidance on recordkeeping, hours worked, overtime, child labor, and anti‑retaliation, plus YouthRules.gov and WHD contact information. Contractors can access the toolkit at no cost by visiting the Department of Labor’s Government Contracts Compliance Assistance Toolkit page at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/compliance-assistance/toolkits/government-contracts.
The Department of Labor’s DOL‑Timesheet App is a free mobile app that lets employees and employers record work hours and estimate pay. Users can track regular hours, break time, and overtime by day and week, and the app automatically calculates projected pay based on the entered hours and wage information. It offers separate options for employers and employees, supports multiple pay frequencies, allows comments on entries, and is available in both English and Spanish. The app is provided at no cost for both iOS and Android devices, and can be downloaded via links from the Wage and Hour Division’s timesheet‑app page.