Last Updated: February 2026
Construction companies face HR challenges that would make most office-based HR managers' heads spin. Between prevailing wage requirements on public projects, certified payroll reporting, Davis-Bacon compliance, tracking workers across multiple job sites daily, managing union and non-union workers with different fringe benefits, and preventing time theft when employees are scattered across remote locations—standard HR software just doesn't cut it.
Construction-specific HR software must excel at:
Pricing: From $499/month (unlimited users) | Website: buildertrend.com
Buildertrend is a comprehensive construction management platform with integrated HR, scheduling, and time tracking features specifically designed for residential construction and remodeling companies.
Best for: Home builders, remodelers, and residential contractors (5-100 employees) who want project management and time tracking in one unified platform.
Pricing: Custom pricing (starts ~$375/month base + per-user fees) | Website: procore.com
Procore is the industry-leading construction management platform used by commercial contractors and GCs worldwide, with robust time tracking, resource management, and project-level labor reporting.
Best for: Commercial contractors, general contractors, and construction firms (50+ employees, multiple concurrent projects) who need enterprise-grade project and workforce management.
Pricing: From $40/month + $6 per employee | Website: gusto.com
While not construction-exclusive, Gusto offers robust payroll features that handle construction complexities like multi-state workers, union fringe benefits, and workers' compensation—with a construction-friendly add-on ecosystem.
Best for: Small to mid-size construction companies (5-100 employees) who prioritize payroll accuracy and compliance over advanced time tracking features.
Pricing: From $8 per user/month (minimum $40/month) | Website: clockshark.com
ClockShark is built specifically for field service and construction time tracking, offering GPS verification, job costing, and scheduling tools that work seamlessly even in remote locations.
Best for: Field service contractors and construction companies (10-200 employees) who need accurate job costing and mobile time tracking but handle payroll elsewhere.
Pricing: From $15 per user/month | Website: busybusy.com
busybusy is specifically designed for construction contractors who deal with prevailing wage projects, offering automated WH-347 certified payroll reporting and Davis-Bacon compliance tools.
Best for: Contractors bidding on government and public works projects who need automated prevailing wage and certified payroll compliance.
| Feature | Buildertrend | Procore | Gusto | ClockShark | busybusy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $499/mo | ~$375/mo + | $40 + $6/EE | $8/user | $15/user |
| GPS Field Time Clock | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (basic) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Prevailing Wage Support | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Certified Payroll (WH-347) | ❌ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Job Costing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ (integration) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Built-in Payroll | ❌ (integration) | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Equipment Tracking | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Project Management | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ | ⭐ | ⭐ |
| Offline Capability | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Union Management | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Best For | Residential | Commercial | Payroll focus | Field tracking | Prevailing wage |
Construction companies vary dramatically in size, project type, and compliance needs. Use this framework to identify your best fit:
Construction software rarely works in isolation. Consider your tech stack:
Your crews won't be at desks. Test the mobile experience thoroughly:
Certified payroll reports require documenting every worker's name, classification, hours worked, wage rates (including fringes), and gross pay for each week on government projects. busybusy automates this entirely—just click "generate report" and it produces a compliant WH-347 form. Gusto and Procore require more manual work but support it. Most contractors submit these weekly or biweekly to contracting agencies.
Prevailing wage laws require paying minimum wage rates (set by DOL or state agencies) for each worker classification on public projects. Rates vary by county, trade, and project type. busybusy maintains an updated database and automatically applies correct rates. You can also manually configure rates in Procore or ClockShark, but updates are your responsibility. Non-compliance can result in project debarment and penalties.
Yes—all platforms offer geofencing that restricts clock-ins to specific GPS coordinates with customizable radius (e.g., within 500 feet of job site address). ClockShark and busybusy offer the tightest geofencing controls. Some also support QR codes or NFC tags at job sites that workers must scan to clock in, providing physical verification.
All platforms support job-switching throughout the day. Workers clock out of Job A and clock into Job B via mobile app. Their time is automatically allocated to the correct cost codes for accurate job costing. ClockShark and busybusy make this particularly easy with one-tap job switching. Make sure to train crews on this workflow—it's critical for profitability tracking.
ClockShark and busybusy both offer dedicated equipment tracking—log when equipment arrives on site, hours used, and when it leaves. This data flows into job costing so you can track equipment utilization and costs alongside labor. Buildertrend and Procore support equipment tracking but it's less robust. Gusto doesn't track equipment at all.
You'll configure different pay rates, fringe benefit contributions, work rules, and reporting requirements by worker classification. busybusy and Gusto handle union fringe tracking well (showing base wage separate from fringes for certified payroll). Procore supports it with custom fields. Make sure your chosen platform can separate base wages from fringe benefits for proper reporting.
ClockShark and busybusy offer robust offline modes—workers can clock in/out without connectivity, and data syncs when they return to service. This is essential for rural and remote construction sites. Buildertrend and Procore have limited offline capability. Gusto requires connectivity for mobile clock-ins. If you frequently work in remote areas, offline functionality should be a key evaluation criterion.
Timelines vary significantly: Gusto and ClockShark can be operational in 1-2 weeks (especially if payroll is already established elsewhere). Buildertrend typically takes 2-4 weeks including data migration and training. Procore requires 1-3 months for full implementation with project integration. busybusy is quick (1-2 weeks) since it's focused on time tracking only. Factor in additional time for crew training—count on 2-4 hours per supervisor and 30-60 minutes per field worker.
Absolutely—many contractors use ClockShark or busybusy for field time tracking and job costing, then export hours to Gusto or their accountant for payroll processing. This "best of breed" approach gives you specialized tools for each function. Just verify that time tracking data exports in a format your payroll system can import (most support QuickBooks IIF, CSV, or direct API integration).
For residential contractors and home builders, Buildertrend provides unbeatable value as an all-in-one platform that handles project management, client communication, and time tracking in one unified system.
Commercial contractors and GCs working on larger projects will find Procore worth the investment for its industry-standard platform, comprehensive project integration, and scalability.
If your primary pain point is payroll accuracy and benefits administration, start with Gusto and add specialized time tracking later if needed—their workers' comp pay-as-you-go alone saves many contractors thousands.
Field service contractors and smaller construction companies (10-100 employees) focused on accurate job costing should choose ClockShark for its purpose-built field time tracking and excellent mobile experience.
And for any contractor regularly bidding government and prevailing wage projects, busybusy will eliminate certified payroll headaches and dramatically reduce compliance risk—the time saved on WH-347 reporting alone often justifies the cost.
Remember: in construction, time tracking isn't just about preventing time theft—it's the foundation of job costing, profitability analysis, and accurate bidding. Choose software that makes it easy for your crews to track time accurately in the field, integrates seamlessly with your accounting system, and scales with your business growth.
Disclaimer: Pricing and features are accurate as of February 2026 but may change. Prevailing wage and certified payroll regulations vary by state and project type—consult with your legal counsel and accountant before implementing any system for government projects.