When DOLIR computes both the hourly wage rate for each occupational title in each county and the ”public works contracting minimum wage” (PWCMW) in each county, are fringe benefits added to the basic hourly rate?
Hourly wage rate for each occupational title (“weighted average wage”): Yes. In calculating this rate, DOLIR will continue to factor in fringe benefits as spelled out in Sec. 290.210. The final hourly wage (known as the “weighted average wage”) for each locality (county) is based on the following formula in 290.257.1:
- Step #1: Wage
Rate = Basic hourly wage rate plus
the hourly fringe rate within a particular occupational title as reported by
each contractor.
- Step #2: Reported
Wage Sum = Total hours worked within an occupational title multiplied by the wage rate as reported by each contractor.
- Step #3: Weighted
Average Wage = The reported wage sums from each contractor, added together and
then divided by the total number of
hours within a particular occupational title reported by all contractors.
PWCMW rate: Yes. The PWCMW also take fringe benefits into account but by a different method than the one used to calculate the weighted average wage. In section 290.257.2, fringe benefits are estimated by using a uniform 20% multiplier. In other words, the PWCMW is calculated by multiplying the average hourly wage number (developed by DED) by 120%. The extra 20% increase over the average wage produced by this formula is used to estimate a fringe benefit for workers in that county.