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Santa Cruz County, AZ · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Santa Cruz County, Arizona
$15.80an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · BACKHOE
$14.00 base wage + $1.80 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE · SUAZ2012-017
$53.68an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$35.56 base wage + $18.12 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (DRILL RIG/AUGER) · ENGI0012-068
$54.76an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$36.64 base wage + $18.12 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE/DERRICK · ENGI0012-042
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Santa Cruz County, an operating engineer working as backhoe must be paid at least $15.80 an hour: a $14.00 base wage plus $1.80 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AZ20260028 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $15.80 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AZ20260028, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUAZ2012-017 (May 30, 2012). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Santa Cruz County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $53.68 an hour: a $35.56 base wage plus $18.12 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AZ20260034 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $53.68 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AZ20260034, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier ENGI0012-068 (December 1, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Santa Cruz County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $54.76 an hour: a $36.64 base wage plus $18.12 in fringe benefits, under wage determination AZ20260053 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $54.76 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination AZ20260053, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier ENGI0012-042 (December 1, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Arizona bars its agencies and political subdivisions from requiring a prevailing wage (A.R.S. 34-321).
DOL lists 19 operating engineer rates for Santa Cruz County, from $15.80 to $57.40 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $14.00 + $1.80
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) | $14.00 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.80 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $15.80 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $35.56 + $18.12
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) | $35.56 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $18.12 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $53.68 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $36.64 + $18.12
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) | $36.64 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $18.12 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $54.76 |
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 Arizona change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Santa Cruz County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE / DERRICKSHighway · SUAZ2023-019$57.40
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE/DERRICKHeavy · ENGI0012-042$54.76
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (DRILL RIG/AUGER)Highway · ENGI0012-068$53.68
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER/FRONT END LOADERHeavy · ENGI0012-049$53.68
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (4) 100 TONS AND OVERBuilding · ENGI0428-003$48.09
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTHighway · SUAZ2023-019$47.51
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (3) 15 TONS TO 100 TONS, TOWER CRANEBuilding · ENGI0428-003$47.06
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (2) UNDER 15 TONSBuilding · ENGI0428-003$45.98
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: OILERHighway · SUAZ2023-019$41.87
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTHeavy · LABO1184-015$40.14
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MOTOR GRADER/BLADEHighway · SUAZ2023-019$40.08
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighway · SUAZ2023-019$39.48
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CONCRETE SCREEDHighway · SUAZ2023-019$33.90
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighway · SUAZ2023-019$32.53
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER/SPREADER/FINISH EQUIPMENT (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, & CONCRETE)Highway · SUAZ2023-019$31.61
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: COMPACTOR/ROLLERHighway · SUAZ2023-019$31.52
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER/FRONT END LOADERHighway · SUAZ2023-019$29.87
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/BACKHOE & LOADER COMBO/TRACK BACKHOEHeavy · SUAZ2023-003$27.38
- OPERATOR: BACKHOEBuilding · SUAZ2012-017$15.80
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (4) 100 TONS AND OVERBuildingENGI0428-003 | $35.52 | $12.57 | $48.09 | AZ20260028 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (3) 15 TONS TO 100 TONS, TOWER CRANEBuildingENGI0428-003 | $34.49 | $12.57 | $47.06 | AZ20260028 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (2) UNDER 15 TONSBuildingENGI0428-003 | $33.41 | $12.57 | $45.98 | AZ20260028 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOEBuildingSUAZ2012-017 | $14.00 | $1.80 | $15.80 | AZ20260028 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (DRILL RIG/AUGER)HighwayENGI0012-068 | $35.56 | $18.12 | $53.68 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER/SPREADER/FINISH EQUIPMENT (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, & CONCRETE)HighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $31.55 | $0.06 | $31.61 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: OILERHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $31.86 | $10.01 | $41.87 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MOTOR GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $36.47 | $3.61 | $40.08 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER/FRONT END LOADERHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $26.07 | $3.80 | $29.87 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $38.31 | $9.20 | $47.51 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $39.48 | $0.00 | $39.48 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE / DERRICKSHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $44.33 | $13.07 | $57.40 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CONCRETE SCREEDHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $33.90 | $0.00 | $33.90 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: COMPACTOR/ROLLERHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $26.76 | $4.76 | $31.52 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighwaySUAZ2023-019 | $32.53 | $0.00 | $32.53 | AZ20260034 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE/DERRICKHeavyENGI0012-042 | $36.64 | $18.12 | $54.76 | AZ20260053 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER/FRONT END LOADERHeavyENGI0012-049 | $35.56 | $18.12 | $53.68 | AZ20260053 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTHeavyLABO1184-015 | $30.88 | $9.26 | $40.14 | AZ20260053 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/BACKHOE & LOADER COMBO/TRACK BACKHOEHeavySUAZ2023-003 | $27.38 | $0.00 | $27.38 | AZ20260053 Mod 1 |
How Santa Cruz 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 Arizona
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Santa Cruz Countybase $14.00$15.80
- Pima Countybase $36.04$49.56
- Cochise Countybase $36.04$49.56
- Pinal Countybase $36.04$49.56
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 Santa Cruz County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pima County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $36.04 | $49.56 | +$33.76 |
| Cochise County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $36.04 | $49.56 | +$33.76 |
| Pinal County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $36.04 | $49.56 | +$33.76 |
| Santa Cruz County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE | $14.00 | $15.80 | |
| Graham County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE | $14.00 | $15.80 | same |
| Greenlee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE | $14.00 | $15.80 | same |
| Gila County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE | $14.00 | $15.80 | same |
Arizona 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 AZ20260028 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/AZ20260028/1
We read every active Arizona 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 Santa Cruz County as CSV · Report an error