Compliance

Federal contractor minimum wage poster

January 6, 2026digital-posters

Federal Contractor Minimum Wage Poster: What to Post, Who Needs It, and How to Stay Compliant

If you’re a federal contractor or subcontractor, you’re likely searching for the federal contractor minimum wage poster to confirm what notice you must display (and how to handle posting for remote or multi-site teams). This guide explains when the federal contractor poster is required, what law triggers it, where to post it, and how SwiftSDS helps you manage digital labor law poster compliance.

What is the federal contractor minimum wage poster?

The “federal contractor minimum wage poster” typically refers to the workplace notice tied to minimum wage obligations for employees working on or in connection with covered federal contracts. Most employers also need the Department of Labor (DOL) wage notice under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) as a baseline federal posting.

As a practical compliance step, many employers post:

  • The standard FLSA minimum wage notice (employee rights under the FLSA), and
  • Any contractor-specific wage notices that apply based on the contract type and worker classifications

For the core federal wage notice, many workplaces use the DOL’s Employee Rights Under the Fair Labor Standards Act poster:

If you’re building a digital posting program, SwiftSDS also maintains a broader hub on how compliant electronic posting works for modern workplaces in Electronic posters.

Who must post a federal contractor poster?

You likely need a federal contractor poster if you meet both of these conditions:

1) You’re covered by federal labor posting rules generally

Most employers engaged in interstate commerce are covered by the FLSA, and DOL’s FLSA poster is a common baseline requirement. If you have public-sector or specialized operations, DOL also provides variations such as:

2) Your employees work on or in connection with covered federal contracts

Federal contractor minimum wage obligations commonly arise under Executive Order 14026 and the DOL’s implementing regulations at 29 CFR Part 23, which apply to certain federal contracts and subcontracts (subject to thresholds, contract clauses, and exceptions). If your procurement documents include federal labor clauses, treat that as a major signal that contractor-specific posting and wage obligations may apply.

Action item: Confirm whether your federal contract incorporates FAR/contract clauses tied to EO 14026 or other wage regimes (for example, older contract language under prior executive orders). When in doubt, coordinate with counsel or your contracting officer and treat posting as part of your contract compliance checklist.

What exactly has to be posted (and what “minimum wage poster” usually means)

The must-have: the FLSA minimum wage poster

Even when the federal contractor minimum wage is the immediate issue, the most commonly cited federal “minimum wage poster” is the DOL FLSA notice. It summarizes employee rights on pay, overtime, recordkeeping, and child labor rules.

Use:

Contractor-specific posting: don’t confuse “poster” with “pay rate”

The contractor minimum wage rate can change over time and depends on coverage rules. The poster obligation is about notifying employees of their rights and ensuring the required notices are accessible. Your wage rate compliance is separate—but related—because failing to pay the applicable contractor minimum can trigger DOL enforcement, back wages, contract issues, and reputational risk.

Action item: Build a compliance calendar: update wage rates (as applicable) and review postings annually, and whenever contracts renew or new sites open.

Where and how to post the federal contractor poster (physical and digital)

On-site posting requirements

Federal labor posters generally must be displayed in a conspicuous place where employees can readily see them—commonly break rooms, near time clocks, onboarding areas, or other high-traffic employee spaces.

Action item: Perform a quick “walk test”—can a new hire find and read the notice in under 60 seconds?

Remote and hybrid teams: digital access matters

Remote teams create a classic gap: a perfect break-room bulletin board doesn’t help employees who never enter the facility. Many employers address this with digital labor law poster solutions that provide employees continuous access.

For an overview of what compliant electronic posting can look like (including examples of layouts and screens), see Electronic poster examples. For the broader rules and best practices, start at Electronic posters.

Action item: If you rely on digital access, ensure:

  • Employees can reach the posters without special permissions or complex logins
  • Posters are readable (not tiny thumbnails)
  • Links remain active and are communicated during onboarding

Don’t forget state and local postings (contractor compliance is additive)

Federal contractor posting obligations don’t replace state/local posting rules. You still need the required notices for each work location. This is especially important for employers with multiple states or employee transfers.

Start with the jurisdiction pages to confirm your baseline posting set:

Action item: Map each employee to a “worksite jurisdiction” (even if remote) and assign the correct federal + state + local poster set to that profile.

Common compliance pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

H3: Using the wrong version of a notice

The DOL provides different FLSA posters depending on employer type (private, state/local government, agriculture). Posting the wrong one can create confusion and compliance gaps.

Action item: Match the notice to your workforce and operations. When in doubt, document your rationale and keep it with your compliance file.

H3: Posting scams and unofficial vendors

Contractors and HR teams are frequent targets for “mandatory poster” solicitations designed to look like government invoices. SwiftSDS has guidance on spotting these tactics in business posting department scam.

Action item: Train AP staff and site managers: government agencies rarely bill you for posters.

H3: Missing accessibility considerations

Posters should be readable and accessible. If you use digital displays or portals, consider how employees with disabilities access the content. For related compliance context, see SwiftSDS’s ada poster resource.

Action item: Ensure digital posters are compatible with assistive technologies where applicable and displayed in readable formats.

How SwiftSDS supports digital federal contractor poster compliance

SwiftSDS focuses on digital labor law posters, which can help contractors and multi-site employers keep postings consistent, up-to-date, and accessible. If you’re evaluating different approaches and costs, SwiftSDS also compares options in Cheap posters—useful if you’re balancing compliance and budget.

If you’re bundling multiple notices, you may also want to review savings options such as the all in one poster coupon code page.

FAQ: Federal contractor minimum wage poster

Do I need a federal contractor minimum wage poster if I already post the FLSA notice?

Often you need the FLSA poster regardless, but federal contractor obligations can add additional requirements depending on your contract clauses and coverage (e.g., EO 14026 / 29 CFR Part 23). Review your contract language and ensure your posting set covers both general federal and contractor-specific obligations.

Where should the federal contractor poster be displayed for remote employees?

Remote employees should have effective access—typically through a digital posting portal or intranet page that is easy to find and read. SwiftSDS’s guides on Electronic posters and Electronic poster examples outline practical setups.

Does the requirement change by state?

Your federal contractor posting obligations stem from federal rules and contract clauses, but your total posting package absolutely changes by location. Use SwiftSDS jurisdiction pages like California (CA) Posting Requirements to confirm what else must be posted at that worksite.

Compliance checklist (quick actions for HR and contractors)

If you want to standardize posting across multiple locations and remote teams, SwiftSDS’s digital labor law poster tools help you centralize updates while keeping required notices consistently available.