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Columbia County, GA · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Columbia County, Georgia
$54.61an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · CRANE
$38.53 base wage + $16.08 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: CRANE · ENGI0926-005
$47.87an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$30.17 base wage + $17.70 fringe benefits
OPERATING ENGINEERS: BACKHOE, COMPACTOR, AND LOADER (BURKE, COLUMBIA, AND RICHMOND COUNTIES) · ENGI0474-008
$39.31an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$39.31 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: CRANE · SUGA2022-007
$25.45an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$25.45 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: CRANE · SUGA2017-010
Columbia County uses the same operating engineer rates as 1 other county. See all of them on one page.
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Columbia County, an operating engineer working as crane must be paid at least $54.61 an hour: a $38.53 base wage plus $16.08 in fringe benefits, under wage determination GA20260318 (modification 2). DOL prints no total, so $54.61 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination GA20260318, modification 2, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier ENGI0926-005 (August 1, 2025). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Columbia County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $47.87 an hour: a $30.17 base wage plus $17.70 in fringe benefits, under wage determination GA20260048 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $47.87 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination GA20260048, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier ENGI0474-008 (July 1, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Columbia County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $39.31 an hour: a $39.31 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination GA20260067 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $39.31 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination GA20260067, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUGA2022-007 (July 12, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Columbia County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $25.45 an hour: a $25.45 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination GA20260295 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $25.45 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination GA20260295, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUGA2017-010 (April 15, 2021). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Georgia has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
DOL lists 23 operating engineer rates for Columbia County, from $8.96 to $54.61 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $38.53 + $16.08
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) | $38.53 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $16.08 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $54.61 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $30.17 + $17.70
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) | $30.17 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $17.70 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $47.87 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $39.31 + $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) | $39.31 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $39.31 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $25.45 + $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) | $25.45 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $25.45 |
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 Georgia change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Columbia County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- OPERATOR: CRANEBuilding · ENGI0926-005$54.61
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (BACKHOE/ EXCAVATOR/ TRACKHOE)Building · ENGI0474-005$50.70
- OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuilding · ENGI0926-006$49.01
- OPERATING ENGINEERS: BACKHOE, COMPACTOR, AND LOADER (BURKE, COLUMBIA, AND RICHMOND COUNTIES)Residential · ENGI0474-008$47.87
- OPERATOR: CRANEHighway · SUGA2022-007$39.31
- OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighway · SUGA2022-007$31.74
- OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)Highway · SUGA2022-007$27.32
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighway · SUGA2022-007$27.13
- OPERATOR: CRANEHeavy · SUGA2017-010$25.45
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavy · SUGA2017-010$25.15
- OPERATOR: LOADERHighway · SUGA2022-007$24.72
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighway · SUGA2022-007$22.82
- OPERATOR: ROLLERHighway · SUGA2022-007$22.50
- OPERATOR: LOADERHeavy · SUGA2017-010$19.75
- OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuilding · SUGA2017-033$16.80
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidential · SUGA2008-104$16.71
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavy · SUGA2017-010$16.29
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuilding · SUGA2017-033$15.23
- OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuilding · SUGA2017-033$14.88
- OPERATOR: LOADERBuilding · SUGA2017-033$14.86
- OPERATOR: ROLLERBuilding · SUGA2017-033$14.05
- OPERATOR: ROLLERHeavy · SUGA2017-010$11.89
- OPERATOR: EXCAVATORResidential · SUGA2008-104$8.96
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (BACKHOE/ EXCAVATOR/ TRACKHOE)BuildingENGI0474-005 | $33.00 | $17.70 | $50.70 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingENGI0926-005 | $38.53 | $16.08 | $54.61 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingENGI0926-006 | $32.93 | $16.08 | $49.01 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUGA2017-033 | $14.05 | $0.00 | $14.05 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUGA2017-033 | $14.86 | $0.00 | $14.86 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUGA2017-033 | $16.80 | $0.00 | $16.80 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUGA2017-033 | $15.23 | $0.00 | $15.23 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUGA2017-033 | $14.88 | $0.00 | $14.88 | GA20260318 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $18.51 | $3.99 | $22.50 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUGA2022-007 | $23.22 | $4.10 | $27.32 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $22.81 | $1.91 | $24.72 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $26.31 | $5.43 | $31.74 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $39.31 | $0.00 | $39.31 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $22.82 | $0.00 | $22.82 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUGA2022-007 | $23.40 | $3.73 | $27.13 | GA20260067 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHeavySUGA2017-010 | $11.89 | $0.00 | $11.89 | GA20260295 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUGA2017-010 | $16.56 | $3.19 | $19.75 | GA20260295 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHeavySUGA2017-010 | $25.45 | $0.00 | $25.45 | GA20260295 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUGA2017-010 | $16.29 | $0.00 | $16.29 | GA20260295 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUGA2017-010 | $21.41 | $3.74 | $25.15 | GA20260295 Mod 1 |
| OPERATING ENGINEERS: BACKHOE, COMPACTOR, AND LOADER (BURKE, COLUMBIA, AND RICHMOND COUNTIES)ResidentialENGI0474-008 | $30.17 | $17.70 | $47.87 | GA20260048 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: EXCAVATORResidentialSUGA2008-104 | $8.96 | $0.00 | $8.96 | GA20260048 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidentialSUGA2008-104 | $13.66 | $3.05 | $16.71 | GA20260048 Mod 1 |
How Columbia 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 Georgia
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Columbia Countybase $38.53$54.61
- McDuffie Countybase $38.53$54.61
- Richmond Countybase $38.53$54.61
- Warren Countybase $14.00$14.00
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 Columbia County are the same as in 1 other county: Burke.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Columbia County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $38.53 | $54.61 | |
| McDuffie County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $38.53 | $54.61 | same |
| Richmond County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $38.53 | $54.61 | same |
| Lincoln County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $38.53 | $54.61 | same |
| Warren County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR | $14.00 | $14.00 | −$40.61 |
| Glascock County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR | $14.00 | $14.00 | −$40.61 |
| Wilkes County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR | $14.00 | $14.00 | −$40.61 |
Georgia 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 GA20260318 Mod 2, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/GA20260318/2
We read every active Georgia 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 Columbia County as CSV · Report an error