How to file certified payroll in Montana (prevailing wage, WH-347)

Montana has its own prevailing-wage law

The Montana Little Davis-Bacon Act applies prevailing-wage requirements to state-funded public-works projects, administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry. It is separate from the federal Davis-Bacon Act, but it leans on the same reporting mechanics — which is why the certified-payroll format below will look familiar if you have filed a WH-347.

Montana accepts the federal WH-347 format

For certified payroll, Montana accepts the federal WH-347 layout, so the same form covers your state public-works reporting. PayrollPenguin maps your classifications to the wage-determination rows, reshapes weekly hours into the WH-347 cells, and assembles the Statement of Compliance — it reformats your numbers; it never invents a wage.

MDT federal-aid highway projects may route differently

A specific Montana project can carry its own submission path: Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) federal-aid highway jobs may route certified payroll through AASHTOWare Project Payroll rather than a WH-347 upload. Check the contract for the project before you file. PayrollPenguin generates the WH-347; where a job requires the AASHTOWare path, treat that as a per-project routing detail rather than the default.

How to file Montana certified payroll

1. Import your payroll run. Upload your ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Paychex, or CSV payroll for the pay period.
2. Pick the Montana project. Select the Montana public-works project and attach its wage determination so classifications map to the right rates.
3. Resolve flagged anomalies. PayrollPenguin flags issues like a missing fringe, a rate below the determination, or a classification gap before you can certify.
4. Certify and export the WH-347. Sign the Statement of Compliance, then download the file-ready WH-347 to submit for the project.

Frequently asked questions

Does Montana have a state prevailing-wage law?

Yes. The Montana Little Davis-Bacon Act, administered by the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, applies prevailing wages to state public-works projects, and Montana accepts the federal WH-347 format for certified payroll reporting.

What about MDT federal-aid highway projects?

Montana Department of Transportation federal-aid highway projects may route certified payroll through AASHTOWare Project Payroll instead of a WH-347 upload. This is a per-project possibility, so check the contract for the specific job to confirm how it expects payroll submitted.

Is PayrollPenguin a compliance guarantee?

No. PayrollPenguin is a reporting and formatting tool — it formats your payroll to the WH-347 specification and flags anomalies. You certify and the awarding agency reviews.