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Otero County, CO · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Otero County, Colorado
$13.41an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · BACKHOE
$13.41 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE · SUCO2001-008
$50.78an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$35.58 base wage + $15.20 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (6)-CRANE (91-140 TONS) · ENGI0009-014
$19.51an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$15.93 base wage + $3.58 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE) · SUCO2001-005
Otero County uses the same operating engineer rates as 7 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Otero County, an operating engineer working as backhoe must be paid at least $13.41 an hour: a $13.41 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination CO20260001 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $13.41 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination CO20260001, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUCO2001-008 (December 20, 2001). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Otero County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $50.78 an hour: a $35.58 base wage plus $15.20 in fringe benefits, under wage determination CO20260010 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $50.78 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination CO20260010, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier ENGI0009-014 (May 1, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Otero County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $19.51 an hour: a $15.93 base wage plus $3.58 in fringe benefits, under wage determination CO20260003 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $19.51 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination CO20260003, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUCO2001-005 (December 20, 2001). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Colorado's state rule uses these same Davis-Bacon determinations for state-agency projects of $500,000 or more that have no federal money (CDOT contracts excluded), with no separate survey (SB19-196, C.R.S. 24-92-205). The City of Denver publishes its own schedules for its own projects, on the City of Denver page.
DOL lists 36 operating engineer rates for Otero County, from $13.41 to $50.78 an hour. See all of them.
- This base is below $13.65, the Executive Order 13658 minimum. Contracts that order covers must pay at least that (see the WD's note).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $13.41 + $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) | $13.41 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $13.41 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $35.58 + $15.20
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) | $35.58 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $15.20 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $50.78 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $15.93 + $3.58
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) | $15.93 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $3.58 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.51 |
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 Colorado change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Otero 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 OPERATORS: BACKHOEBuildingSUCO2001-008 | $13.41 | $0.00 | $13.41 | CO20260001 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (6)-CRANE (91-140 TONS)HighwayENGI0009-014 | $35.58 | $15.20 | $50.78 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (5)-DRILL RIG CAISSON (WATSON 2500 SIMILAR OR LARGER), CRANE (51-90 TONS)HighwayENGI0009-014 | $35.41 | $15.20 | $50.61 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (4)-CRANE (50 TONS AND UNDER)HighwayENGI0009-014 | $35.20 | $15.20 | $50.40 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (3)- DRILL RIG CAISSON (SMALLER THAN WATSON 2500 AND SIMILAR), POWER BROOM/SWEEPER (70 HP AND OVER)HighwayENGI0009-014 | $35.03 | $15.20 | $50.23 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (1)-POWER BROOM/SWEEPER(UNDER 70 HP)HighwayENGI0009-014 | $34.14 | $15.20 | $49.34 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: TRACTORHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $16.83 | $2.95 | $19.78 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCREEDHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $16.21 | $3.76 | $19.97 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCRAPERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $19.93 | $5.38 | $25.31 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ROLLER COMPACTOR (DIRT AND GRADE COMPACTION)HighwaySUCO2011-005 | $17.78 | $2.83 | $20.61 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $18.91 | $4.20 | $23.11 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END) (BACA, BENT, COSTILLA, CROWLEY, HUERFANO, KIOWA, OTERO, PROWERS)HighwaySUCO2011-005 | $23.58 | $6.66 | $30.24 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE (BACA, BENT, COSTILLA, CROWLEY, HUERFANO, KIOWA, OTERO, PROWERS)HighwaySUCO2011-005 | $18.40 | $4.20 | $22.60 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $18.30 | $5.01 | $23.31 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: DRILLHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $20.49 | $2.66 | $23.15 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CHIPPERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $22.04 | $8.26 | $30.30 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $26.65 | $4.46 | $31.11 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID LOADERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $18.43 | $3.12 | $21.55 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/TRACKHOE (BACA, BENT, COSTILLA, CROWLEY, HUERFANO, KIOWA, OTERO, PROWERS)HighwaySUCO2011-005 | $23.19 | $4.18 | $27.37 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $23.19 | $7.66 | $30.85 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT ROLLERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $23.14 | $7.51 | $30.65 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT PLANTHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $21.13 | $2.16 | $23.29 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT PAVERHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $22.67 | $8.72 | $31.39 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ASPHALT LAYDOWNHighwaySUCO2011-005 | $24.17 | $6.73 | $30.90 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (OILER)HighwaySUCO2011-005 | $22.54 | $9.22 | $31.76 | CO20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: TRACKHOEHeavyENGI0009-004 | $35.20 | $15.20 | $50.40 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: ROLLER: SELF-PROPELLED, RUBBER TIRES UNDER 5 TONSHeavyENGI0009-004 | $34.58 | $15.20 | $49.78 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: ROLLER: SELF-PROPELLED, ALL TYPES OVER 5 TONSHeavyENGI0009-004 | $35.03 | $15.20 | $50.23 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADER: BLADE-ROUGHHeavyENGI0009-004 | $35.03 | $15.20 | $50.23 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADER: BLADE-FINISHHeavyENGI0009-004 | $35.58 | $15.20 | $50.78 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MECHANICHeavyENGI0009-004 | $35.58 | $15.20 | $50.78 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: FRONT END LOADERHeavySUCO2001-005 | $15.86 | $3.59 | $19.45 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BULLDOZERHeavySUCO2001-005 | $15.08 | $4.44 | $19.52 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BOBCAT/SKID LOADERHeavySUCO2001-005 | $20.22 | $4.41 | $24.63 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (EXCAVATOR)HeavySUCO2001-005 | $15.39 | $0.00 | $15.39 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE)HeavySUCO2001-005 | $15.93 | $3.58 | $19.51 | CO20260003 Mod 1 |
How Otero 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 Colorado
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Otero Countybase $13.41$13.41
- Crowley Countybase $13.41$13.41
- Bent Countybase $13.41$13.41
- Pueblo Countybase $20.26$28.88
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.
DOL's operating engineer rates for Otero County are the same as in 7 other counties: Baca, Bent, Costilla, Crowley, Huerfano, Kiowa, Prowers.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Otero County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.26 | $28.88 | +$15.47 |
| Otero County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | |
| Crowley County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | same |
| Bent County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | same |
| Las Animas County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | same |
| Kiowa County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | same |
| Huerfano County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $13.41 | $13.41 | same |
Colorado 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 CO20260001 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/CO20260001/1
We read every active Colorado 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. The City of Denver rows are copied from Denver Labor's own schedules. How we check · Download Otero County as CSV · Report an error