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Alameda County · Operating Engineer

Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Alameda County, California

$108.51an hour, base wage + fringe benefits · Group 1

$72.22 base wage + $36.29 fringe benefits

Alameda County uses the same operating engineer rates as 6 other counties. See all of them on one page.

On California public works in Alameda County, a Group 1 operating engineer must be paid at least $108.51 an hour in total: $72.22 in wages plus $36.29 in employer payments to health, pension, training and other funds. Daily overtime is $144.62 and Sunday and holiday work is $180.73. DIR puts 4 job titles in Group 1, cranes over 100 tons and derrick over 100 tons among them.

DIR general determination NC-23-63-1-2026-2D, issued August 22, 2026. Expires June 27, 2027. Checked against dir.ca.gov on October 24, 2026.

DIR lists 54 operating engineer rates for Alameda County, from $81.55 to $109.26 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $72.22 + $36.29

The basic hourly rate is the taxable wage. The other lines, the fringe benefits DIR calls employer payments, are what DIR expects the employer to pay into health, pension and other plans for each hour worked. An employer can pay part of that as extra wages instead, as long as the total per hour stays at $108.51 or more.

Basic hourly rate (taxable wage)	$72.22
Health and welfare	$13.88
Pension	$13.28
Vacation and holiday (footnote b)	$6.19
Training	$1.31
Other payments	$1.63
Total straight-time hourly rate	$108.51

Straight time covers an 8-hour day.

When does this rate change?

A project pays the rates in effect on its bid advertisement date for the life of the job, plus any increase DIR set in advance (DIR FAQ).
DIR issues new determinations on February 22 and August 22, and they take effect 10 days later. This rate is from determination NC-23-63-1-2026-2D, issued August 22, 2026; DIR's expiration date for it is June 27, 2027.

Scheduled increases

$108.51now$112.52Jun 28, 2027$116.53Jun 26, 2028

Current rate, DIR Aug 22, 2026Increases DIR has already set

DIR has already set these increases. Work on or after each date is paid the higher rate. DIR often leaves part of an increase "to be allocated to wages and/or employer payments" and confirms the split when it comes due, and it can reduce a scheduled increase in a later notice, so check DIR's increase page before you pay it.

Takes effect	Increase per hour	Total after increase
June 28, 2027	+$4.01	$112.52
June 26, 2028	+$4.01	$116.53

The double asterisk after DIR's expiration date means the next rate is already set. If the work runs past that date you have to pay the new rate, and DIR says to build it into contracts signed now (DIR FAQ, Q8).

Source: DIR increase PDF

Operating Engineer Group 1 job titles

Work DIR classifies in Group 1, copied as printed. The other groups and their rates are in the table below.

Cranes over 100 tons
Derrick over 100 tons
Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons
Tower Crane

Source: Group 1, page 2

Every operating engineer rate in Alameda County

As DIR lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.

Classification	Base wage	Fringe benefits	Total rate	Daily OT	Determination
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1Area 1 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 tons Derrick over 250 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 250 tons	$72.00	$36.29	$108.29	$144.29	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1 - Assistant to EngineerArea 1 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 tons Derrick over 250 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 250 tons	$62.74	$36.29	$99.03	$130.40	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1 - Truck Crane Assistant to EngineerArea 1 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 tons Derrick over 250 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 250 tons	$65.03	$36.29	$101.32	$133.84	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1-AArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 7 cu yds Cranes over 100 tons Derrick, over 100 tons Derrick Barge Pedestal mounted over 100 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 tons Tower Cranes	$71.25	$36.29	$107.54	$143.17	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1-A - Assistant to EngineerArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 7 cu yds Cranes over 100 tons Derrick, over 100 tons Derrick Barge Pedestal mounted over 100 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 tons Tower Cranes	$61.99	$36.29	$98.28	$129.28	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 1-A - Truck Crane Assistant to EngineerArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 7 cu yds Cranes over 100 tons Derrick, over 100 tons Derrick Barge Pedestal mounted over 100 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 tons Tower Cranes	$64.28	$36.29	$100.57	$132.71	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 2-AArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 1 cu yds up to and including 7 cu yds Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick Barge 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, over 45 tons Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain) over 3 stories Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 45 tons	$69.49	$36.29	$105.78	$140.53	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 2-A - Assistant to EngineerArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 1 cu yds up to and including 7 cu yds Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick Barge 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, over 45 tons Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain) over 3 stories Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 45 tons	$61.78	$36.29	$98.07	$128.96	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 2-A - Truck Crane Assistant to EngineerArea 1 6 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines over 1 cu yds up to and including 7 cu yds Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick Barge 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, over 45 tons Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain) over 3 stories Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device over 45 tons	$64.02	$36.29	$100.31	$132.32	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 3-AArea 1 5 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines up to and including 1 cu yd Cranes 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain), 3 stories and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 tons and under	$67.75	$36.29	$104.04	$137.92	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 3-A - Assistant to EngineerArea 1 5 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines up to and including 1 cu yd Cranes 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain), 3 stories and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 tons and under	$61.50	$36.29	$97.79	$128.54	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 3-A - HydraulicArea 1 5 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines up to and including 1 cu yd Cranes 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain), 3 stories and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 tons and under	$63.39	$36.29	$99.68	$131.38	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 3-A - Truck Crane Assistant to EngineerArea 1 5 jobs in this group Clamshells and Draglines up to and including 1 cu yd Cranes 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Mobile Self-Erecting Tower Crane (Potain), 3 stories and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 tons and under	$63.78	$36.29	$100.07	$131.96	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: All Cranes & Attachments: Group 4-AArea 1 3 jobs in this group Boom Truck or dual-purpose A-Frame Truck, Non- Rotating over 15 tons. Truck Mounted Rotating Telescopic Boom Type Lifting Device, Manitex or similar (Boom Truck -over 15 tons) Truck-Mounted Rotating Telescopic Boom Type Lifting Device, Manitex or Similar (Boom Truck), under 15 tons	$64.71	$36.29	$101.00	$133.36	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group 1	$72.22	$36.29	$108.51	$144.62	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 1Area 1 4 jobs in this group Drill Equipment, over 200,000 lbs Operator of Helicopter (when used in erection work) Hydraulic Excavator 7 cu yds and over Power Shovels, over 7 cu yds	$70.37	$36.29	$106.66	$141.85	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group 1 - Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Cranes over 100 tons Derrick over 100 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons Tower Crane	$62.67	$36.29	$98.96	$130.30	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Cranes over 100 tons Derrick over 100 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device Over 100 Tons Tower Crane	$64.90	$36.29	$101.19	$133.64	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 2 4 jobs in this group Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick, 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, Over 45 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device, Over 45 Tons	$70.45	$36.29	$106.74	$141.97	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 2Area 1 6 jobs in this group Highline Cableway Hydraulic Excavator 3 1/2 cu yds up to 7 cu yds Licensed Construction Work Boat Operator, On Site Microtunneling Machine Power Blade Operator (finish) Power Shovels, (over 1 cu yd and up to and including 7 cu yds m.r.c.)	$68.84	$36.29	$105.13	$139.55	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group 2 - Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick, 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, Over 45 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device, Over 45 Tons	$62.40	$36.29	$98.69	$129.89	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 2 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 4 jobs in this group Cranes over 45 tons up to and including 100 tons Derrick, 100 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, Over 45 tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device, Over 45 Tons	$64.68	$36.29	$100.97	$133.31	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 3 3 jobs in this group Cranes, 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under	$68.97	$36.29	$105.26	$139.75	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 3Area 1 19 jobs in this group Asphalt Milling Machine Cable Backhoe Combination Backhoe and Loader over ¾ cu yds Continuous Flight Tie Back Machine Crane Mounted Continuous Flight Tie Back Machine, tonnage to apply Crane Mounted Drill Attachments, Tonnage to apply Dozer, Slope Board Drill Equipment, over 100,000 lbs up to and including 200,000 lbs Gradall Hydraulic Excavator up to 3 1/2 cu yds Loader 4 cu yds and over Long Reach Excavator Multiple Engine Scrapers (when used as push pull) Power Shovels, up to and including 1 cu yd Pre-Stress Wire Wrapping machine Side Boom Cat, 572 or larger Track Loader 4 cu yds and over Tree removal, site clearing and grubbing equipment as follows: Self-Loading Skidder, Forwarder, Heel Boom, Albach (tree removal/site clearing and grubbing), Feller Buncher, Processor, Harvester, Timber Handler - Sennebogen or similar (tree removal/site clearing and grubbing), Log Yoder, Track-Mounted Grinders/Chippers, Stroke Delimber, Knuckle Boom (not inclusive of grapple hook trucks). Wheel Excavator (up to and including 750 cu yds per hour)	$67.36	$36.29	$103.65	$137.33	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group 3 - Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes, 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under	$62.18	$36.29	$98.47	$129.56	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 3 - Hydraulic 3 jobs in this group Cranes, 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under	$64.02	$36.29	$100.31	$132.32	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 3 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes, 45 tons and under Rotating Tele Handler, Magni and similar, 45 tons and under Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Device 45 Tons And Under	$64.41	$36.29	$100.70	$132.91	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group 4 3 jobs in this group Chicago Boom Forklift, 10 Tons And Over Heavy Duty Repairman/Welder	$66.95	$36.29	$103.24	$136.72	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 4Area 1 34 jobs in this group Asphalt Plant Engineer/Boxman Chicago Boom Combination Backhoe and Loader up to and including ¾ cu yds Concrete Batch Plants (wet or dry) Dozer and/or Push Cat Drill Equipment, over 50,000 lbs up to and including 100,000 lbs Pull-Type Elevating Loader Gradesetter, Grade Checker (GPS, mechanical or otherwise) Grooving and Grinding Machine Heading Shield Operator Heavy Duty Drilling Equipment, Hughes, LDH, Watson 3000 or similar Heavy Duty Repairman and/or Welder Lime Spreader Loader under 4 cu yds Lubrication and Service Engineer (mobile and grease rack) Mechanical Finishers or Spreader Machine (asphalt, Barber-Greene and similar) Miller Formless M-9000 Slope Paver or similar Portable Crushing and Screening plants Power Blade Support Roller Operator, Asphalt Rubber-Tired Scraper, Self-Loading (paddle-wheels, etc) Rubber-Tired Earthmoving Equipment (Scrapers) Slip Form Paver (concrete) Small Tractor with Drag Soil Stabilizer (P&H or equal) Spider Plow and Spider Puller Timber Skidder Track Loader up to 4 yards Tractor Drawn Scraper Tractor, Compressor Drill Combination Tubex Pile Rig Unlicensed Construction Work Boat Operator, On Site Welder Woods-Mixer (and other similar Pugmill equipment)	$65.98	$36.29	$102.27	$135.26	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group 5 1 job in this group Boom Cat	$65.65	$36.29	$101.94	$134.77	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 5Area 1 19 jobs in this group Cast-In Place Pipe Laying Machine Combination Slusher and Motor Operator Concrete Conveyor or Concrete Pump, Truck or Equipment Mounted Concrete Conveyor, Building Site Concrete Pump or Pumpcrete Guns Drilling Equipment, Watson 2000, Texoma 700 or similar Drilling and Boring Machinery, Horizontal (not to apply to waterliners, wagon drills or jackhammers) Concrete Mixers/all Man and/or Material Hoist Mechanical Finishers (concrete) (Clary, Johnson, Bidwell Bridge Deck or similar types) Mechanical Burm, Curb and/or Curb and Gutter Machine, Concrete or Asphalt Mine or Shaft Hoist Portable Crushers Power Jumbo Operator (setting slip-forms, etc., in tunnels) Screedman (automatic or manual) Self Propelled Compactor with Dozer Tractor with boom, D6 or smaller Trenching Machine, maximum digging capacity over 5 ft. depth Vermeer T-600B Rock Cutter or similar	$64.71	$36.29	$101.00	$133.36	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 6Area 1 28 jobs in this group Armor-Coater (or similar) Ballast Jack Tamper Boom-Type Backfilling Machine Asst. Plant Engineer Bridge and/or Gantry Crane Chemical Grouting Machine, truck mounted Chip Spreading Machine Operator Concrete Barrier Moving Machine Concrete Saws (self-propelled unit on streets, highways, airports, and canals) Deck Engineer Drill Doctor Drill Equipment, over 25,000 lbs up to and including 50,000 lbs Drilling Equipment Texoma 600, Hughes 200 series or similar up to and including 30 ft. m.r.c. Helicopter Radioman Hydro-Hammer or similar Line Master Skidsteer Loader, Bobcat larger than 743 series or similar (with attachments) Locomotive Rotating Extendable Forklift, Lull Hi-Lift or similar Assistant to Engineer, Truck Mounted Equipment Pavement Breaker, Truck Mounted, with compressor combination Paving Fabric Installation and/or Laying Machine Pipe Bending Machine (pipelines only) Pipe Wrapping Machine (Tractor propelled and supported) Screedman, (except asphaltic concrete paving) Self-Loading Chipper Self Propelled Pipeline Wrapping Machine Tractor	$63.39	$36.29	$99.68	$131.38	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 7Area 1 27 jobs in this group Ballast Regulator Cary Lift or similar Combination Slurry Mixer and/or Cleaner Coolant/Slurry Tanker Operator (hooked to Grooving/Grinding Machine) Drilling Equipment, 20 ft and under m.r.c. Drill Equipment, over 1,000 lbs up to and including 25,000 lbs Fireman Hot Plant Grouting Machine Operator Highline Cableway Signalman Stationary Belt Loader (Kolman or similar) Lift Slab Machine (Vagtborg and similar types) Maginnes Internal Full Slab Vibrator Material Hoist (1 Drum) Mechanical Trench Shield Partsman (heavy duty repair shop parts room) Pavement Breaker with or without Compressor Combination Pipe Cleaning Machine (tractor propelled and supported) Post Driver Roller (except Asphalt), Chip Seal Self Propelled Automatically Applied Concrete Curing Machine (on streets, highways, airports and canals) Self Propelled Compactor (without dozer) Signalman Slip-Form Pumps (lifting device for concrete forms) Super Sucker Vacuum Truck Tie Spacer Trenching Machine (maximum digging capacity up to and including 5 ft depth) Truck Type Loader	$62.25	$36.29	$98.54	$129.67	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 8Area 1 31 jobs in this group Bit Sharpener Boiler Tender Box Operator Brakeman Combination Mixer and Compressor (shotcrete/gunite) Compressor Operator Deckhand Fireman Generators Gunite/Shotcrete Equipment Operator Heavy Duty Repairman Helper Hydraulic Monitor Ken Seal Machine (or similar) Mast Type Forklift Mixermobile Assistant to Engineer Pump Operator Refrigerator Plant Reservoir-Debris Tug (Self-Propelled Floating) Ross Carrier (Construction site) Rotomist Operator Self Propelled Tape Machine Shuttlecar Self Propelled Power Sweeper Operator (Includes Vacuum Sweeper) Slusher Operator Surface Heater Switchman Tar Pot Fireman Tugger Hoist, Single Drum Vacuum Cooling Plant Welding Machine (powered other than by electricity)	$61.11	$36.29	$97.40	$127.96	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
OPERATING ENGINEER (HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK) #: Group 8-AArea 1 4 jobs in this group Articulated Dump Truck Operator Elevator Operator Mini Excavator under 25 H.P. (Backhoe-Trencher) Skidsteer Loader, Bobcat 743 series or Smaller and similar (without attachments)	$58.90	$36.29	$95.19	$124.64	NC-23-63-1-2026-2
Group A-1 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$72.97	$36.29	$109.26	$145.75	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group A-1 - Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$63.42	$36.29	$99.71	$131.42	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
Group A-1 - Truck Crane Assistant to Engineer 3 jobs in this group Cranes over 250 Tons Derrick over 250 Tons Self Propelled Boom Type Lifting Devices over 250 Tons	$65.65	$36.29	$101.94	$134.77	NC-23-63-1-2026-2D
OPERATING ENGINEER#: Group IArea 1 1 job in this group Landscape Finish Grade Operator. All finish grade work regardless of the equipment used, and all equipment with a horsepower rating of more than 65.	$59.26	$33.21	$92.47	$122.10	NC-63-3-75-2026-1
OPERATING ENGINEER#: Group IIArea 1 11 jobs in this group Landscape Operator up to 65 H.P. All equipment with a manufacturer's horsepower rating of 65 or less except equipment covered by Group I or Group III. The following equipment shall be included in Group II except when used for finish work so long as its manufacturer's horsepower rating is 65 or less. A-Frame and Winch Truck Backhoe Forklift (Jobsite) HDR Welder - Landscape - Operating Engineer's Equipment Hydro Seeder Machine Roller Rubber-Tired and Track Earthmoving Equipment Skiploader Straw Blowers Trencher - 35 Horsepower up to 65 Horsepower	$55.66	$33.21	$88.87	$116.70	NC-63-3-75-2026-1
OPERATING ENGINEER#: Group IIIArea 1 3 jobs in this group Landscape Utility Operator Small Rubber-Tired Tractor Trencher - Under 35 Horsepower	$51.05	$33.21	$84.26	$109.79	NC-63-3-75-2026-1
OPERATING ENGINEER#: Group IVArea 1 1 job in this group Assistant Landscape Utility Operator Oiler	$48.34	$33.21	$81.55	$105.72	NC-63-3-75-2026-1
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 1Area 1 6 jobs in this group Heading Shield Operator Heavy Duty Repairman/Welder Mucking Machine Raised Bore Operator Tunnel Mole Bore Operator Tunnel Boring Machine Operator 10 ft up to 20 ft	$66.47	$36.29	$102.76	$136.00	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 1-AArea 1 1 job in this group Tunnel Bore Machine Operator - 20 feet in diameter or more	$68.94	$36.29	$105.23	$139.70	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 2Area 1 3 jobs in this group Combination Slusher and Motor Operator Concrete Pump or Pumpcrete Guns Power Jumbo Operator	$65.21	$36.29	$101.50	$134.11	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 3Area 1 2 jobs in this group Drill Doctor Mine or Shaft Hoist	$63.88	$36.29	$100.17	$132.11	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 4Area 1 3 jobs in this group Combination Slurry Mixer Cleaner Grouting Machine Operator Motorman	$62.74	$36.29	$99.03	$130.40	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Shafts Stopes & Raises Group 5Area 1 7 jobs in this group Bit Sharpener Brakeman Combination Mixer and Compressor (Gunite) Compressor Operator Assistant to Engineer Pump Operator Slusher Operator	$61.60	$36.29	$97.89	$128.69	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 1Area 1 6 jobs in this group Heading Shield Operator Heavy Duty Repairman/Welder Mucking Machine Raised Bore Operator Tunnel Mole Bore Operator Tunnel Boring Machine Operator 10 ft up to 20 ft	$66.37	$36.29	$102.66	$135.85	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 1-AArea 1 1 job in this group Tunnel Bore Machine Operator - 20 feet in diameter or more	$68.84	$36.29	$105.13	$139.55	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 2Area 1 3 jobs in this group Combination Slusher and Motor Operator Concrete Pump or Pumpcrete Guns Power Jumbo Operator	$65.11	$36.29	$101.40	$133.96	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 3Area 1 2 jobs in this group Drill Doctor Mine or Shaft Hoist	$63.78	$36.29	$100.07	$131.96	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 4Area 1 3 jobs in this group Combination Slurry Mixer Cleaner Grouting Machine Operator Motorman	$62.64	$36.29	$98.93	$130.25	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C
TUNNEL/UNDERGROUND (OPERATING ENGINEER-HEAVY AND HIGHWAY WORK)#: Underground Rate Group 5Area 1 7 jobs in this group Bit Sharpener Brakeman Combination Mixer and Compressor (Gunite) Compressor Operator Assistant to Engineer Pump Operator Slusher Operator	$61.50	$36.29	$97.79	$128.54	NC-23-63-1-2026-2C

Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Alameda County

Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. When a California awarding body runs a federally funded or assisted project, DIR's rates must be paid where they are higher than the Davis-Bacon rates (DIR public works FAQ).

We don't put a federal figure next to DIR's here, because the federal determinations split this trade into groups that don't line up with DIR's. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.

Construction	Federal classification	Base wage	Total rate	WD
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 1 (CRANES)- CRANE OVER 100 TONS; DERRICK OVER 100 TONS; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE OVER 100 TONSENGI0003-001	$68.81	$101.34	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 1 (OILER)- CRANE OVER 100 TONS; DERRICK OVER 100 TONS; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE OVER 100 TONSENGI0003-001	$43.72	$74.87	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 2 (CRANES)- CRANE OVER 45 TONS TO 100 TONS; DERRICK UNDER 100 TONS; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE …ENGI0003-001	$67.04	$99.57	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 2 (OILER)- CRANE OVER 45 TONS TO 100 TONS; DERRICK UNDER 100 TONS; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE …ENGI0003-001	$43.45	$74.60	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 3 (CRANES)- CRANE, 45 TONS AND UNDER; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE, 45 TONS AND UNDERENGI0003-001	$65.56	$98.09	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 3 (HYDRAULIC)- CRANE, 45 TONS AND UNDER; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE, 45 TONS AND UNDERENGI0003-001	$45.07	$76.22	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 3 (OILER)- CRANE, 45 TONS AND UNDER; SELF-PROPELLED BOOM-TYPE LIFTING DEVICE, 45 TONS AND UNDERENGI0003-001	$43.23	$74.38	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 4 (CRANES)- CHICAGO BOOM; FORKLIFT, 10 TONS AND OVER; HEAVY-DUTY REPAIR PERSON/WELDERENGI0003-001	$63.54	$96.07	CA20260018 Mod 8
Building, Highway, Heavy	OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, STEEL ERECTION: GROUP 5 (CRANES)- BOOM CATENGI0003-001	$62.24	$94.77	CA20260018 Mod 8

Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. California Davis-Bacon changes

How Alameda County compares

The main operating engineer rate in every county that has one, and how the pay splits here and in the nearest counties. All bars use the same scale.

Every county in California

Alameda $108.5112

$103.71San Diego$108.51Alameda

AlamedaNearby: Contra Costa $108.51, San Mateo $108.51, Mono $103.75Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 0 counties pay more than Alameda, 45 the same, 12 less.

Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby

Alameda Countybase $72.22$108.51
Contra Costa Countybase $72.22$108.51
San Mateo Countybase $72.22$108.51
Mono Countybase $64.40$103.75

Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties

Current DIR rates. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done, even if your shop is somewhere else.

DIR's operating engineer rates for Alameda County are the same as in 6 other counties: Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano. The closest county with a different rate is Mono County, at $103.75.

County	Classification	Base wage	Total rate	vs Alameda County
Alameda County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51
Contra Costa County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same
San Mateo County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same
Santa Clara County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same
San Francisco County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same
San Joaquin County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same
Santa Cruz County	Group 1	$72.22	$108.51	same

California operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map

Footnotes on this rate

DIR's footnotes, in DIR's words. Several change the rate itself: zone pay, a percentage added to the total, or which overtime hours get which rate.

b Includes an amount for supplemental dues.
c When three shifts are employed for five (5) or more consecutive days, seven and one-half (7 1/2) consecutive hours (exclusive of meal period), shall constitute a day of work, for which eight (8) times the straight time hourly rate shall be paid at the non-shift wage rate for the second shift. The third shift shall be seven (7) hours of work for eight (8) hours of pay at the non-shift wage rate.
d Rate applies to the first 2 daily overtime hours only. All other time is paid at the double time rate.
e Saturday in the same work week may be worked at straight-time rates if a job is shut down during the normal work week due to inclement weather.

DIR's other marks: # means an apprenticeable craft, * means in effect until superseded, ** means the next rate is already set.

Are you being paid this rate?

Add your hourly wage to what your employer pays into health, pension and other plans for you, and compare it with $108.51. Plan payments only count if the money goes into the plan; your pay stub won't show them, but plan statements will. The training amount goes to the California Apprenticeship Council or an apprenticeship program, not to you. Check a week of pay.

Contractors on most public works jobs file certified payroll with the state, and anyone can look it up in DIR's CPR public search. If your total comes up short, you can file a public works complaint with the California Labor Commissioner.

Source

California Department of Industrial Relations, general prevailing wage determination NC-23-63-1-2026-2D, page 1: www.dir.ca.gov/oprl/2026-2/PWD/Determinations/Northern/NC-023-63-1(D).pdf

Each figure is copied from DIR's file and checked by a second, separate reader. How we check · How to read a determination · Download Alameda County as CSV · Report an error