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Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Engineering
Engineering & Professional Services Firms: New Hire Payroll Onboarding (2026)
New hire payroll onboarding at an engineering firm is the W-4, the Form I-9 within three business days, new hire reporting inside the state deadline, the pay code for the role, and the engineering firm checks this page cites before the first shift. BEG: $45 per employee per month inside the payroll software you already use, live in 3 to 5 days.
Checks specific to hiring in engineering firms
The Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal and District of Columbia contracts over $2,000 for construction, alteration or repair of public buildings or works, and Related Acts extend it to most federally assisted construction. Contractors must pay laborers and mechanics the prevailing wage including fringe benefits, pay weekly, and submit weekly certified payroll records to the contracting agency.
For every week in which Davis-Bacon covered work is performed, the contractor or subcontractor must submit a certified payroll with a signed Statement of Compliance to the contracting agency; the prime contractor is responsible for all subcontractor submissions, and certified payrolls and basic payroll records must be preserved for 3 years after all work on the prime contract is completed.
The federal onboarding sequence
Form W-4 (and the state equivalent) before the first check; Form I-9 section 1 on day one and section 2 within three business days; the new hire report to the state directory within its deadline, federal default 20 days and shorter in several states; the pay code, exemption status and direct deposit authorization on the employee record; and for engineers and project managers the pay basis documented so prevailing wage for government projects is taxed and counted for overtime correctly from the first run.
The rules behind this page, with sources
General information, not legal advice. Every rule below was read on the agency page linked next to it.
- The Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal and District of Columbia contracts over $2,000 for construction, alteration or repair of public buildings or works, and Related Acts extend it to most federally assisted construction. Contractors must pay laborers and mechanics the prevailing wage including fringe benefits, pay weekly, and submit weekly certified payroll records to the contracting agency. [DOL Fact Sheet #66]
- For every week in which Davis-Bacon covered work is performed, the contractor or subcontractor must submit a certified payroll with a signed Statement of Compliance to the contracting agency; the prime contractor is responsible for all subcontractor submissions, and certified payrolls and basic payroll records must be preserved for 3 years after all work on the prime contract is completed. [29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)]
Read the full guide to how to onboard a new employee in payroll, and the rest of the engineering firm payroll library.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Hiring at an engineering firm: DOL Fact Sheet #66
The Davis-Bacon Act applies to federal and District of Columbia contracts over $2,000 for construction, alteration or repair of public buildings or works, and Related Acts extend it to most federally assisted construction. Contractors must pay laborers and mechanics the prevailing wage including fringe benefits, pay weekly, and submit weekly certified payroll records to the contracting agency.
Hiring at an engineering firm: 29 CFR 5.5(a)(3)
For every week in which Davis-Bacon covered work is performed, the contractor or subcontractor must submit a certified payroll with a signed Statement of Compliance to the contracting agency; the prime contractor is responsible for all subcontractor submissions, and certified payrolls and basic payroll records must be preserved for 3 years after all work on the prime contract is completed.
How fast must an engineering firm report a new hire?
Within the state's deadline, 20 days under the federal default and as short as 7 days in some states. The report goes to the state new hire directory, and a rehire after 60 days is reported again.
What does managed payroll cost for an engineering firm?
$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive, inside the payroll software you already use, with no monthly minimum. Prevailing wage for government projects, billable hour payroll allocation and PE license classification are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Engineering & Professional Services Firms. BEG manages payroll at $45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
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