Executive Summary: Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage Determinations Needto Be Calculated Scientifically
The Davis-Bacon Act requires contractors on all federal construction projects to pay their workers the prevailing wage in the same locality. However, the prevailing wages estimated by the federal government are highly inaccurate. In some counties, for example, Davis-Bacon wage determinations are just one-third of market wages. In other counties, they are more than 75 percent above prevailing market wages. In some states, Davis-Bacon rates are actually below the minimum wage.
Source: heritage.org