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Hawaii operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county
An operating engineer's prevailing wage on Hawaii public works is $96.56 an hour in every county that has one (5), for the main classification.
Operating Engineer rate in each Hawaii county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City and County of HonoluluEquipment Operator: Group 1 · City and County of Honolulu group | $59.85 | $36.71 | $96.56 | Sep 14, 2026 | HI-WRS511-44 |
Hawaii CountyEquipment Operator: Group 1 · City and County of Honolulu group | $59.85 | $36.71 | $96.56 | Sep 14, 2026 | HI-WRS511-44 |
Kalawao CountyEquipment Operator: Group 1 · City and County of Honolulu group | $59.85 | $36.71 | $96.56 | Sep 14, 2026 | HI-WRS511-44 |
Kauai CountyEquipment Operator: Group 1 · City and County of Honolulu group | $59.85 | $36.71 | $96.56 | Sep 14, 2026 | HI-WRS511-44 |
Maui CountyEquipment Operator: Group 1 · City and County of Honolulu group | $59.85 | $36.71 | $96.56 | Sep 14, 2026 | HI-WRS511-44 |
Main operating engineer classification in each county (Equipment operator: group 1), Wage Rate Schedule WRS 511 with addenda 512 and 513 (Oct 2, 2026). Hawaii doesn't lock rates at bid: increases apply to contracts already under way from the date DLIR publishes them (HRS 104-2(b)(3)). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Hawaii?
$96.56 an hour in every county that has a rate, for the main classification.
DLIR's Wage Rate Schedule lists journeyworker rates. Apprentice rates are in the separate Apprentice Schedule and apply only to apprentices individually registered with DLIR under a registered program (HAR 12-22-6). R&S: (808) 586-8799.
Questions about Hawaii operating engineer pay
What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in City and County of Honolulu?
$96.56 an hour: a $59.85 base wage plus $36.71 in fringe benefits, under Wage Rate Schedule WRS 511 with addenda 512 and 513 (Oct 2, 2026). Overtime and every operating engineer classification in City and County of Honolulu.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In City and County of Honolulu the $96.56 total is a $59.85 base wage plus $36.71 in fringe benefits, about 38% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Hawaii?
Work on Saturday, Sunday, a state holiday, or over 8 hours on any other day pays at least 1½ times the basic hourly rate plus fringe benefits at straight time (HRS 104-1; 104-2(c)). DLIR's remark 13 adds double time on listed days for some trades and triple time on Labor Day for others. The dollar figures here are computed from those rules.
Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?
DLIR's Wage Rate Schedule lists journeyworker rates. Apprentice rates are in the separate Apprentice Schedule and apply only to apprentices individually registered with DLIR under a registered program (HAR 12-22-6). R&S: (808) 586-8799.
Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?
DLIR often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Hawaii, the 5 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 1 distinct sets of rates, and 1 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 5 counties (the City and County of Honolulu group).