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Etowah County, AL · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Etowah County, Alabama
$32.68an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$21.48 base wage + $11.20 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUAL2015-013
$12.52an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$12.52 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END) · SUAL2007-126
$17.90an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$17.90 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUAL2019-032
$19.78an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$17.64 base wage + $2.14 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: LOADER, INCLUDES WATER SEWER LINES · SUAL2015-034
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Etowah County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $32.68 an hour: a $21.48 base wage plus $11.20 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AL20260085 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $32.68 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AL20260085, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUAL2015-013 (August 2, 2017). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Etowah County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $12.52 an hour: a $12.52 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AL20260042 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $12.52 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AL20260042, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUAL2007-126 (October 23, 2007). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Etowah County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $17.90 an hour: a $17.90 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AL20260153 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $17.90 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AL20260153, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUAL2019-032 (November 13, 2019). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Etowah County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $19.78 an hour: a $17.64 base wage plus $2.14 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AL20260106 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $19.78 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AL20260106, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUAL2015-034 (August 2, 2017). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Alabama has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
DOL lists 28 operating engineer rates for Etowah County, from $11.20 to $46.62 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $21.48 + $11.20
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $21.48 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $11.20 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $32.68 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $12.52 + $0.00
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $12.52 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $12.52 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $17.90 + $0.00
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $17.90 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $17.90 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $17.64 + $2.14
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits as one hourly figure, not itemized; it can go to health, pension, vacation and training plans, or be paid as cash where the state allows.
| Base wage (taxable) | $17.64 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $2.14 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.78 |
When does this rate change?
- A contract keeps the wage determination in its bid documents. Modifications published before bid opening apply to it, though one published less than 10 days before can be left out if the agency finds there isn't time to tell bidders (29 CFR 1.6(c)).
- DOL changes a WD by publishing a numbered modification on SAM.gov. This page reads the modification named in the Source line; the Alabama change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Etowah County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingENGI0312-001 | $32.57 | $14.05 | $46.62 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingENGI0312-001 | $32.57 | $14.05 | $46.62 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUAL2015-013 | $14.00 | $1.78 | $15.78 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUAL2015-013 | $14.69 | $0.00 | $14.69 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUAL2015-013 | $17.52 | $0.89 | $18.41 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUAL2015-013 | $19.96 | $0.40 | $20.36 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUAL2015-013 | $21.48 | $11.20 | $32.68 | AL20260085 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL)HighwayENGI0312-002 | $24.15 | $9.36 | $33.51 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: SCRAPERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $13.30 | $0.00 | $13.30 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $14.20 | $0.00 | $14.20 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUAL2019-032 | $17.21 | $0.00 | $17.21 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: OILERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $16.83 | $0.00 | $16.83 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $15.69 | $0.00 | $15.69 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $22.36 | $0.00 | $22.36 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLEHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $16.89 | $0.00 | $16.89 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $14.46 | $0.00 | $14.46 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $18.49 | $0.00 | $18.49 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $23.95 | $0.00 | $23.95 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $17.11 | $0.00 | $17.11 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $11.68 | $0.00 | $11.68 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $13.88 | $0.00 | $13.88 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $17.90 | $0.00 | $17.90 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADERHighwaySUAL2019-032 | $16.26 | $0.00 | $16.26 | AL20260153 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADER, INCLUDES WATER SEWER LINESHeavySUAL2015-034 | $17.64 | $2.14 | $19.78 | AL20260106 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE, INCLUDES WATER SEWER LINESHeavySUAL2015-034 | $18.80 | $3.39 | $22.19 | AL20260106 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END)ResidentialSUAL2007-126 | $12.52 | $0.00 | $12.52 | AL20260042 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidentialSUAL2007-126 | $12.60 | $0.00 | $12.60 | AL20260042 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOEResidentialSUAL2007-126 | $11.20 | $0.00 | $11.20 | AL20260042 Mod 1 |
How Etowah County compares
The main operating engineer rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county in Alabama
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Etowah Countybase $21.48$32.68
- Calhoun Countybase $21.48$32.68
- Cherokee Countybase $20.48$32.26
- Marshall Countybase $20.48$32.26
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current DOL rates. Davis-Bacon rates are set for groups of counties, so neighbours often share them; the county where the work is done decides.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Etowah County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Clair County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $32.57 | $46.62 | +$13.94 |
| Blount County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $32.57 | $46.62 | +$13.94 |
| Etowah County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.48 | $32.68 | |
| Calhoun County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.48 | $32.68 | same |
| Cherokee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.48 | $32.26 | −$0.42 |
| Marshall County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.48 | $32.26 | −$0.42 |
| DeKalb County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.48 | $32.26 | −$0.42 |
Alabama operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from DOL on this rate
- DOL wage determination
- SAM.gov wage determinations
- Davis-Bacon determinations list journeyworker rates. Apprentices in a program registered with DOL or a recognized state agency can be paid the program's percentage of the rate, within its ratio; anyone else gets the full rate (29 CFR 5.5(a)(4)).
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base pay to the fringe your employer pays for you, in cash or into plans, and compare the sum with the total. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints: 1-866-487-9243, or dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints.
Source
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (DOL), wage determination AL20260085 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/AL20260085/1
We read every active Alabama Davis-Bacon wage determination from SAM.gov's own data and check every number with a second, independent read of the same file. DOL prints no total; ours is base plus fringe. How we check · Download Etowah County as CSV · Report an error