Survey Deadline Approaches for Seven Construction Trades

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is conducting a comprehensive wage and hour survey to establish prevailing wage rates for seven key trades in residential construction. With the submission deadline set for Friday, July 25, 2025, contractors and industry stakeholders have a limited window to contribute vital wage data that will shape compensation standards across the state.

Survey Scope and Coverage

This third-round survey focuses on seven specialized residential construction trades:

• Brick Masons
• Electricians
• Marble Setters
• Stone Masons
• Terrazzo Workers
• Terrazzo/Tile Finishers
• Tile Setters

The survey captures all work performed on both public and private residential construction projects between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Residential construction is defined as work on single-family homes, duplexes, apartments, condominiums, and other residential structures up to four stories in height, including basements used as permanent residences.

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Two-Category Reporting System

Employers must report wage and hour information separately for two distinct categories:

Category 1: Affordable Housing, Weatherization, and Shelters This includes work on affordable housing projects (including permanent supportive and transitional housing), weatherization and home rehabilitation programs for low-income households, and homeless or domestic violence shelters.

Category 2: Other Residential Projects All remaining residential construction work that doesn't fall under the first category.

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Geographic Precision Required

L&I requires detailed geographic reporting, with wage rates established separately for each of Washington's 39 counties. Additionally, hours worked within each county's largest city must be reported separately from work performed outside that city, ensuring wage standards accurately reflect local market conditions.

Participation Process

While participation remains voluntary, the survey results directly impact prevailing wage rates that affect compensation standards throughout the residential construction industry. Contractors identified through L&I's registered contractor database will receive survey announcement letters, but any interested party may participate.

Participants can choose between online submission through L&I's website at lni.wa.gov/PWSurvey or paper forms that can be mailed to the department. The survey requires comprehensive reporting of all wage and hour data, including work on both public and private projects during the survey period.

Impact on Industry Standards

The survey serves Washington's prevailing wage law, which was enacted to protect government contractor employees from substandard earnings while preserving local wage standards. As noted in L&I's methodology, these surveys are designed to identify local wage standards that merit protection, preventing government contractors from undermining established compensation levels.

The data collected will be used to establish prevailing wage rates that accurately reflect current market conditions for residential construction in each locality. These rates become mandatory minimums for contractors and subcontractors working on public projects, ensuring competitive compensation standards across the industry.

Questions and Assistance

Industry participants with questions about the survey process can contact L&I's Prevailing Wage Program at PWSurvey@Lni.wa.gov. With the July 25 deadline approaching, contractors and interested parties are encouraged to begin their survey submissions promptly to ensure their market data contributes to the state's wage standard calculations.

The survey represents a critical opportunity for Washington's residential construction industry to shape fair and competitive wage standards that reflect actual market conditions while protecting worker compensation levels across the state.

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