Construction payroll · September 20, 2026
Best payroll software for construction (2026)
Certified payroll and class codes are the job. A SaaS HRIS will not file Davis-Bacon just because the logo looks modern.
By Gregory GreensteinUpdated September 20, 2026Affiliate disclosure
Construction payroll is not office payroll. You have job-site class codes, overtime that follows the job, and — on public work — certified payroll. The job is: pay the crew correctly, file, and give the controller a cost that matches the job. “AI that writes bids” is not this page.
This ranking is for US trades and small GCs under ~50 people — not a $200M Foundation Software bake-off. Gusto publishes a bill and wins private-work shops that will not touch prevailing wage. Paychex and ADP sell the certified-payroll conversation. Workforce wins when the books already live in QuickBooks.
Prices as of September 20, 2026. Gusto Simple is $49 + $6 per person. Paychex and ADP are quote-only. This is not prevailing-wage or workers’ comp advice.
The short list
Public list prices as of September 20, 2026. Promos change. Confirm on the vendor page before you buy.
| # | Product | Best for | Public starting price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gusto | Private-work shops that want published pricing and a Tuesday-night setup | Simple $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22. Contractor Only $35 + $6. Simple is single-state. | 8.2 |
| 2 | Paychex | Shops whose workers’ comp, 401(k), or certified-payroll habit already sits in Paychex | Paychex does not publish a durable national self-serve rate for Flex. Third-party PEPM rumors are not official. Request a written quote that includes certified payroll, workers’ comp, and implementation. | 8.0 |
| 3 | QuickBooks Workforce | Contractors whose job costs already close in QuickBooks Online | Workforce Payroll $50/mo + $7/employee; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17. You also need a QBO subscription (Plus $140 list if job costing matters). 50% off base-fee intros appear. | 7.8 |
| 4 | ADP RUN | Shops that want a name a bonding company and auditor already recognize | Not published as a national self-serve rate card. Packages Essential, Enhanced, Complete, HR Pro. Request pricing and ask specifically about certified payroll. | 7.4 |
01
Gusto
Private-work shops that want published pricing and a Tuesday-night setup
Public pricing: Simple $49/mo + $6/person; Plus $80 + $12; Premium $180 + $22. Contractor Only $35 + $6. Simple is single-state.
Gusto public pricing (gusto.com/product/pricing), reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You have Davis-Bacon or state prevailing-wage jobs that need certified payroll out of the box. Confirm Gusto’s current construction extras before you assume it. Or your broker already lives in Paychex or ADP.
Why it ranks
- A superintendent-turned-owner can estimate ten people on a napkin.
- Full-service US filings on standard plans, with 1099s for subs you classify as contractors.
- Pairs with QBO and Xero — where many shop books already live.
- The right default when every job is private and class codes are simple.
Watch-outs
- Certified payroll is the construction skip-if. Confirm the live construction page, do not trust a 2023 forum.
- Simple is single-state. Traveling crews usually mean Plus.
- Job costing still happens in the ledger or Knowify — not in Gusto’s timesheet.
- Classification of 1099 crews is on you. We are not your counsel.
02
Paychex
Shops whose workers’ comp, 401(k), or certified-payroll habit already sits in Paychex
Public pricing: Paychex does not publish a durable national self-serve rate for Flex. Third-party PEPM rumors are not official. Request a written quote that includes certified payroll, workers’ comp, and implementation.
Paychex official site (paychex.com). No public national rate card. Reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You want a national self-serve rate card. Paychex Flex is a quote. Private-work only? Model Gusto first.
Why it ranks
- A known construction-adjacent payroll brand for public-work shops.
- Workers’ comp and retirement add-ons exist if you later need them in-family.
- Useful when a local Paychex contact already files similar crews.
- Tax filing is the product, same as the rest of this list.
Watch-outs
- Without a quote you cannot compare it to Gusto Simple at $109 for ten people.
- The sales motion is consultative. Budget calendar time.
- Leaving later is a project.
- A quote that hides certified-payroll as an add-on is not a complete quote.
03
QuickBooks Workforce
Contractors whose job costs already close in QuickBooks Online
Public pricing: Workforce Payroll $50/mo + $7/employee; Premium $88 + $13; Elite $134 + $17. You also need a QBO subscription (Plus $140 list if job costing matters). 50% off base-fee intros appear.
Intuit public product pages (quickbooks.intuit.com/products/), reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You are not on QBO and do not plan to be. Buying payroll here just for the logo usually costs more than Gusto plus a ledger you already have.
Why it ranks
- Payroll journals post into the same file the CPA already opens.
- QBO Plus projects/classes are how many small GCs tag jobs — payroll that posts there helps.
- Tax filing is included on current Workforce plans.
- A common split when Knowify or Jobber sits next door and QBO is the ledger.
Watch-outs
- Budget QBO + Workforce. The combined list is not $50.
- Certified payroll is not why anyone buys Workforce. Confirm Intuit’s current construction extras.
- Introductory discounts expire. Model month seven.
- If the books are Xero, pair Xero with Gusto instead.
04
ADP RUN
Shops that want a name a bonding company and auditor already recognize
Public pricing: Not published as a national self-serve rate card. Packages Essential, Enhanced, Complete, HR Pro. Request pricing and ask specifically about certified payroll.
ADP RUN package pages (adp.com), reviewed September 20, 2026.
Skip if
You want transparent online pricing. ADP sells RUN through a conversation.
Why it ranks
- ADP has filed US payroll taxes longer than most SaaS brands have existed.
- Useful if a benefits broker, lender, or union-adjacent advisor is already in the ADP universe.
- Package ladder from “just payroll” to light HR.
- Garnishments and unglamorous compliance are the point of the brand.
Watch-outs
- No quote, no comparison to Gusto.
- The sales motion is a tax on an owner-operator’s time.
- Do not expect Gusto’s onboarding vibe.
- Switching off later is not a weekend.
How we picked
The job is US construction payday for shops under ~50: filings, class codes, and an honest answer on certified payroll. We scored published-price honesty, setup friction, and QBO adjacency. Foundation, Viewpoint, and Sage stay off as mid-market/enterprise. Job costing is a different ranking.