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Richland County · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Richland County, Illinois
$77.60an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$48.15 base wage + $29.45 fringe benefits
Richland County uses the same operating engineer rates as 16 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On Illinois public works in Richland County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $77.60 an hour: a $48.15 base wage plus $29.45 in fringe benefits for health and welfare, pension, vacation, training and other insurance. IDOL lists each part but prints no total, so $77.60 is our sum of its columns. Overtime after 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday, is 1.5 times the base wage. IDOL sorts this trade into numbered classes by equipment or duties, and this is Class 1.
IDOL's Richland County schedule, posted October 19, 2026, for work performed on or after October 19, 2026. Checked against labor.illinois.gov on October 24, 2026.
IDOL lists 3 operating engineer rates for Richland County, from $62.50 to $79.60 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $48.15 + $29.45
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. The other lines are the fringe benefits IDOL lists for each hour: health and welfare, pension, vacation, training, and "other insurance", which IDOL's legend defines as the "employer hourly cost for any other type(s) of insurance".
| Base wage (taxable) | $48.15 |
| Health and welfare | $12.40 |
| Pension | $15.50 |
| Training | $1.55 |
| Base + fringes (our sum; IDOL prints no total) | $77.60 |
Foreman base wage: $49.15 an hour, with the same fringe benefits.
When does this rate change?
- Illinois rates don't lock at bid. When IDOL revises a rate, “the revised rate shall apply to such contract” from its effective date, including jobs already under way (820 ILCS 130/4(l)).
- A missing notice is no excuse. A public body's failure to send the new rates “does not relieve the contractor of the duty to comply”, or of paying back wages (820 ILCS 130/4(g), (j)).
- IDOL surveys in June and must publish the year's schedule by July 15 (820 ILCS 130/9), then posts revisions through the year. In 2026 its postings took effect on Jan 15, Mar 2, Apr 15, May 21, Jul 15, Aug 15, Sep 21 and Oct 19, 2026. Each posting replaces all 102 county schedules.
- This page uses the posting for work performed on or after October 19, 2026 (IDOL current rates; older postings are on IDOL's historical rates page).
What each class covers
IDOL's explanation of classes for Richland County, copied as printed. The class number on a row decides its rate.
LANDSCAPING
Landscaping work falls under the existing classifications for laborer, operating engineer and truck driver. The work performed by landscape plantsman and landscape laborer is covered by the existing classification of laborer. The work performed by landscape operators (regardless of equipment used or its size) is covered by the classifications of operating engineer. The work performed by landscape truck drivers (regardless of size of truck driven) is covered by the classifications of truck driver.
Every operating engineer rate in Richland County
As IDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Operating Engineer, Class 3$79.60
- Operating Engineer, Class 1$77.60
- Operating Engineer, Class 2$62.50
| Trade and class | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | OT Mon–Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $29.45 | $77.60 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 2 | $33.05 | $29.45 | $62.50 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 3 | $50.15 | $29.45 | $79.60 | 1.5× |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Richland County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. When a contract requires both the state rate and the Davis-Bacon rate, paying the higher of the two meets both. The contract documents say which apply.
We don't put a federal figure next to IDOL's here, because the federal determinations split this trade into groups that don't line up with IDOL's. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT: RIVER Class 2ENGI0318-001 | $36.78 | $68.78 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT: RIVER Class 1ENGI0318-001 | $40.23 | $72.23 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT: RIVER (Class 2)ENGI0318-001 | $36.78 | $68.78 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT: RIVER (Class 1)ENGI0318-001 | $40.23 | $72.23 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 1 POWER CRANES, DRAGLINES, DERRICKS, SHOVELS, GRADALLS, MECHANICS, TRACTOR HIGHLIFT, TOURNADOZER, CONCRETE MIXERS WITH SKIP, …ENGI0841-005 | $45.15 | $71.15 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 2 CONCRETE MIXERS WITHOUT SKIPS, ROCK CRUSHER, DITCHING MACHINE UNDER 6', CURBING MACHINE, ONE DRUM MACHINES WITHOUT TOWER OR …ENGI0841-006 | $30.05 | $56.05 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 3 AIR COMPRESSOR, TRACK OR SELF-PROPELLED; BULK CEMENT BATCHING- PLANTS; CONVEYORS; CONCRETE MIERS (EXCEPT PLANT,PAVER,TOWER) …ENGI0965-005 | $34.30 | $63.05 | IL20260002 Mod 4 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 10 CERTIFIED CRANE OPERATORS 17.5 TONS AND ABOVE, WHEN REQUESTED BY THE CONTRACTOR OR REQUIRED BY THE OWNER (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, …ENGI0520-004 | $46.75 | $81.70 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 11 MASTER MECHANIC (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES) INCLUDING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON HEAVY …ENGI0520-004 | $44.45 | $79.40 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 12 LICENSED BOAT PILOT (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES) INCLUDING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON HEAVY …ENGI0520-004 | $45.45 | $80.40 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 02 ASSISTANT OPERATORS (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES) INCLUDING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON HEAVY …ENGI0520-004 | $41.32 | $76.27 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 03 AIR COMPRESSOR ONE; WATER PUMP REGARDLESS OF SIZE ONE; WELDING MACHINE ONE; 1-BAG MIXER ONE; CONVEYOR ONE; SIPHON OR JET; …ENGI0520-004 | $36.84 | $71.79 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 05 OILERS (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, AND RANDOLPH COUNTIES) INCLUDING BUILDING CONSTRUCTION ON HEAVY INDUSTRIAL SITES …ENGI0520-004 | $44.45 | $79.40 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 06 OPERATORS ON EQUIPMENT WITH BOOMS, INCLUDING JIBS, 100 FT AND OVER, BUT LESS THAN 150 FT (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, …ENGI0520-004 | $45.00 | $79.95 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 07 OPERATORS ON EQUIPMENT WITH BOOMS, INCLUDING JIBS, 150 FT AND OVER, BUT LESS THAN 200 FT (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, MARION, PERRY, …ENGI0520-004 | $45.30 | $80.25 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 08 OPERATORS ON EQUIPMENT WITH BOOMNS, INCLUDING JIBS, 200 FT AND OVER; TOWER CRANES, AND WHIRLEY CRANES (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, …ENGI0520-004 | $45.60 | $80.55 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 09 CERTIFIED CRANE OPERATORS, BELOW 17.5 TONS, WHEN REQUESTED BY THE CONTRACTOR OR REQUIRED BY THE OWNER. (FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, …ENGI0520-004 | $46.25 | $81.20 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 2 CONCRETE MIXERS WITHOUT SKIPS, ROCK CRUSHER, DITCHING MACHINE UNDER 6', CURBING MACHINE, ONE DRUM MACHINES WITHOUT TOWER OR …ENGI0841-004 | $30.05 | $56.05 | IL20260016 Mod 2 |
| Residential | BACKHOEENGI0841-013 | $45.15 | $71.15 | IL20260044 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Illinois Davis-Bacon changes
Holidays
IDOL's Richland County schedule: “The following list is considered as those days for which holiday rates of wages for work performed apply: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and Veterans Day in some classifications/counties. Generally, any of these holidays which fall on a Sunday is celebrated on the following Monday. This then makes work performed on that Monday payable at the appropriate overtime rate for holiday pay. Common practice in a given local may alter certain days of celebration. If in doubt, please check with IDOL.”
Holiday work is paid at the holiday multiple in the overtime table (2.0× the base wage for this row).
How Richland 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 Illinois
Base wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Richland Countybase $48.15$77.60
- Lawrence Countybase $48.15$77.60
- Jasper Countybase $48.15$77.60
- White Countybase $42.13$76.13
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current IDOL rates. You pay the rate for the county where the work is done. The Act defines “locality” as the county of the physical work, with narrow exceptions (820 ILCS 130/2).
IDOL's operating engineer rates for Richland County are the same as in 16 other counties: Champaign, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar and 8 more. The closest county with a different rate is White County, at $76.13.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Richland County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | |
| Lawrence County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
| Jasper County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
| Edwards County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
| Clay County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
| Wabash County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
| Crawford County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 | $48.15 | $77.60 | same |
Illinois operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from IDOL on this rate
- Richland County schedule (IDOL PDF, page 2)
- Work that no listed trade covers: IDOL names a neighboring county's classification to use. Call 217-782-1710.
- Apprentices: IDOL's county schedules list journeyworker and foreman rates only.
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to what your employer pays into health, pension and other plans for you, and compare it with $77.60. Your contractor has to post the rates on the job site or give you written notice of them (820 ILCS 130/4(n)), and file a certified payroll with IDOL by the 15th of each month for the month before (820 ILCS 130/5).
A worker paid less than the prevailing rate can sue for the difference (820 ILCS 130/4(g)).
Source
Illinois Department of Labor, prevailing wage rates for Richland County, posted October 19, 2026, page 2: labor.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idol/laws-rules/conmed/documents/fy27/20261019/Richland.pdf
Each figure is read from IDOL's PDF and checked by a second, separate reader. IDOL prints no total; ours is re-added independently. How we check · Download Richland County as CSV · Report an error