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Will County · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Will County, Illinois
$121.85an hour, base + fringes
$68.80 wage + $53.05 fringe benefits · Building
Will County uses the same operating engineer rates as 2 other counties. See all of them on one page.
On Illinois public works in Will County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $121.85 an hour: a $68.80 base wage plus $53.05 in fringe benefits for health and welfare, pension, vacation, training and other insurance. IDOL lists each part but prints no total, so $121.85 is our sum of its columns. Overtime after 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday, is 2.0 times the base wage. This is IDOL's building rate; it lists separate floating and highway rates for this trade in Will County. IDOL sorts this trade into numbered classes by equipment or duties, and this is Class 1.
IDOL's Will 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 20 operating engineer rates for Will County, from $114.85 to $133.20 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe: $68.80 + $53.05
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) | $68.80 |
| Health and welfare | $25.95 |
| Pension | $22.30 |
| Vacation and holiday | $2.00 |
| Training | $2.80 |
| Base + fringes (our sum; IDOL prints no total) | $121.85 |
Foreman base wage: $72.80 an hour, with the same fringe benefits.
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Will 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 + fringe | Base | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building, Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 4 (BUILDING AND RESIDENTIAL) BOBCATS AND/OR OTHER SKID STEER LOADERS; BRICK FORKLIFTS; OILERSENGI0150-026 | $116.25 | $63.20 | IL20260008 Mod 3 |
| Building, Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 3 (BUILDING AND RESIDENTIAL) AIR COMPRESSOR-SMALL 250 AND UNDER (1 TO 5 NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 300 FT); AIR COMPRESSOR-LARGE …ENGI0150-026 | $118.00 | $64.95 | IL20260008 Mod 3 |
| Building, Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 2 (BUILDING AND RESIDENTIAL) BOBCAT (OVER 3/4 CU YD); BOILERS; BRICK FORKLIFT; BROOM, POWER PROPELLED; BULLDOZERS; CONCRETE …ENGI0150-026 | $120.55 | $67.50 | IL20260008 Mod 3 |
| Building, Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 1 (BUILDING AND RESIDENTIAL) MECHANIC; ASPHALT PLANT*; ASPHALT SPREADER; AUTOGRADE*; BACKHOES WITH CAISSON ATTACHMENT*:BATCH …ENGI0150-026 | $121.85 | $68.80 | IL20260008 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 5 BOBCATS (ALL); BRICK FORKLIFTS; OILERS; DIRECTIONAL BORING (DUPAGE, KANE, KENDALL, LAKE, MCHENRY, AND WILL COUNTIES)ENGI0150-024 | $108.80 | $57.80 | IL20260011 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 4 AIR COMPRESSOR - SMALL 250 AND UNDER (1 TO 5 NOT TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF 300 FT); AIR COMPRESSOR - LARGE OVER 250; COMBINATION …ENGI0150-024 | $110.00 | $59.00 | IL20260011 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 2 BATCH PLANT*; BITUMINOUS MIXER; BOILER AND THROTTLE VALVE; BULLDOZER; CAR LOADER TRAILING CONVEYORS; COMBINATION BACKKHOE …ENGI0150-024 | $113.45 | $62.45 | IL20260011 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT, GROUP 1 ASPHALT PLANT*; ASPHALT HEATER AND PLANER COMBINATION; ASPHALT HEATER SCARFIRE*, ASPHALT SPREADER; AUTOGRADER/ GOMACO OR …ENGI0150-024 | $114.00 | $63.00 | IL20260011 Mod 2 |
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 Will 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).
When this rate changes
- 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 Will County, copied as printed. The class number on a row decides its rate.
OPERATING ENGINEER - BUILDING
Class 1. Asphalt Plant; Asphalt Spreader; Autograde; Backhoes with Caisson Attachment; Batch Plant; Benoto (requires Two Engineers); Boiler and Throttle Valve; Caisson Rigs; Central Redi-Mix Plant; Combination Back Hoe Front End-loader Machine; Compressor and Throttle Valve; Concrete Breaker (Truck Mounted); Concrete Conveyor; Concrete Conveyor (Truck Mounted); Concrete Paver Over 27E cu. ft; Concrete Paver 27E cu. ft. and Under: Concrete Placer; Concrete Placing Boom; Concrete Pump (Truck Mounted); Concrete Tower; Cranes, All; Cranes, Hammerhead; Cranes, (GCI and similar Type); Creter Crane; Spider Crane; Crusher, Stone, etc.; Derricks, All; Derricks, Traveling; Formless Curb and Gutter Machine; Grader, Elevating; Grouting Machines; Heavy Duty Self-Propelled Transporter or Prime Mover; Highlift Shovels or Front Endloader 2-1/4 yd. and over; Hoists, Elevators, outside type rack and pinion and similar machines; Hoists, One, Two and Three Drum; Hoists, Two Tugger One Floor; Hydraulic Backhoes; Hydraulic Boom Trucks; Hydro Vac (and similar equipment); Locomotives, All; Motor Patrol; Lubrication Technician; Manipulators; Pile Drivers and Skid Rig; Post Hole Digger; Pre-Stress Machine; Pump Cretes Dual Ram; Pump Cretes: Squeeze Cretes-Screw Type Pumps; Gypsum Bulker and Pump; Raised and Blind Hole Drill; Roto Mill Grinder; Scoops - Tractor Drawn; Slip- Form Paver; Straddle Buggies; Operation of Tie Back Machine; Tournapull; Tractor with Boom and Side Boom; Trenching Machines. Class 2. Boilers; Broom, All Power Propelled; Bulldozers; Concrete Mixer (Two Bag and Over); Conveyor, Portable; Forklift Trucks; Highlift Shovels or Front Endloaders under 2-1/4 yd.; Hoists, Automatic; Hoists, Inside Elevators; Hoists, Sewer Dragging Machine; Hoists, Tugger Single Drum; Laser Screed; Rock Drill (Self-Propelled); Rock Drill (Truck Mounted); Rollers, All; Steam Generators; Tractors, All; Tractor Drawn Vibratory Roller; Winch Trucks with "A" Frame. Class 3. Air Compressor; Combination Small Equipment Operator; Generators; Heaters, Mechanical; Hoists, Inside Elevators (remodeling or renovation work); Hydraulic Power Units (Pile Driving, Extracting, and Drilling); Pumps, over 3" (1 to 3 not to exceed a total of 300 ft.); Low Boys; Pumps, Well Points; Welding Machines (2 through 5); Winches, 4 Small Electric Drill Winches. Class 4. Bobcats and/or other Skid Steer Loaders; Oilers; and Brick Forklift. Class 5. Assistant Craft Foreman. Class 6. Gradall. Class 7. Mechanics; Welders.
OPERATING ENGINEERS - HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
Class 1. Asphalt Plant; Asphalt Heater and Planer Combination; Asphalt Heater Scarfire; Asphalt Spreader; Autograder/GOMACO or other similar type machines: ABG Paver; Backhoes with Caisson Attachment; Ballast Regulator; Belt Loader; Caisson Rigs; Car Dumper; Central Redi-Mix Plant; Combination Backhoe Front Endloader Machine, (1 cu. yd. Backhoe Bucket or over or with attachments); Concrete Breaker (Truck Mounted); Concrete Conveyor; Concrete Paver over 27E cu. ft.; Concrete Placer; Concrete Tube Float; Cranes, all attachments; Cranes, Tower Cranes of all types: Creter Crane: Spider Crane; Crusher, Stone, etc.; Derricks, All; Derrick Boats; Derricks, Traveling; Dredges; Elevators, Outside type Rack & Pinion and Similar Machines; Formless Curb and Gutter Machine; Grader, Elevating; Grader, Motor Grader, Motor Patrol, Auto Patrol, Form Grader, Pull Grader, Subgrader; Guard Rail Post Driver Truck Mounted; Hoists, One, Two and Three Drum; Heavy Duty Self-Propelled Transporter or Prime Mover; Hydraulic Backhoes; Backhoes with shear attachments up to 40' of boom reach; Lubrication Technician; Manipulators; Mucking Machine; Pile Drivers and Skid Rig; Pre-Stress Machine; Pump Cretes Dual Ram; Rock Drill - Crawler or Skid Rig; Rock Drill - Truck Mounted; Rock/Track Tamper; Roto Mill Grinder; Slip-Form Paver; Snow Melters; Soil Test Drill Rig (Truck Mounted); Straddle Buggies; Hydraulic Telescoping Form (Tunnel); Operation of Tieback Machine; Tractor Drawn Belt Loader; Tractor Drawn Belt Loader (with attached pusher - two engineers); Tractor with Boom; Tractaire with Attachments; Traffic Barrier Transfer Machine; Trenching; Truck Mounted Concrete Pump with Boom; Raised or Blind Hole Drills (Tunnel Shaft); Underground Boring and/or Mining Machines 5 ft. in diameter and over tunnel, etc; Underground Boring and/or Mining Machines under 5 ft. in diameter; Wheel Excavator; Widener (APSCO). Class 2. Batch Plant; Bituminous Mixer; Boiler and Throttle Valve; Bulldozers; Car Loader Trailing Conveyors; Combination Backhoe Front Endloader Machine (Less than 1 cu. yd. Backhoe Bucket or over or with attachments); Compressor and Throttle Valve; Compressor, Common Receiver (3); Concrete Breaker or Hydro Hammer; Concrete Grinding Machine; Concrete Mixer or Paver 7S Series to and including 27 cu. ft.; Concrete Spreader; Concrete Curing Machine, Burlap Machine, Belting Machine and Sealing Machine; Concrete Wheel Saw; Conveyor Muck Cars (Haglund or Similar Type); Drills, All; Finishing Machine - Concrete; Highlift Shovels or Front Endloader; Hoist - Sewer Dragging Machine; Hydraulic Boom Trucks (All Attachments); Hydro-Blaster; Hydro Excavating (excluding hose work); Laser Screed; All Locomotives, Dinky; Off-Road Hauling Units (including articulating) Non Self- Loading Ejection Dump; Pump Cretes: Squeeze Cretes - Screw Type Pumps, Gypsum Bulker and Pump; Roller, Asphalt; Rotary Snow Plows; Rototiller, Seaman, etc., self-propelled; Self-Propelled Compactor; Spreader - Chip - Stone, etc.; Scraper - Single/Twin Engine/Push and Pull; Scraper - Prime Mover in Tandem (Regardless of Size); Tractors pulling attachments, Sheeps Foot, Disc, Compactor, etc.; Tug Boats. Class 3. Boilers; Brooms, All Power Propelled; Cement Supply Tender; Compressor, Common Receiver (2); Concrete Mixer (Two Bag and Over); Conveyor, Portable; Farm-Type Tractors Used for Mowing, Seeding, etc.; Forklift Trucks; Grouting Machine; Hoists, Automatic; Hoists, All Elevators; Hoists, Tugger Single Drum; Jeep Diggers; Low Boys; Pipe Jacking Machines; Post-Hole Digger; Power Saw, Concrete Power Driven; Pug Mills; Rollers, other than Asphalt; Seed and Straw Blower; Steam Generators; Stump Machine; Winch Trucks with "A" Frame; Work Boats; Tamper-Form-Motor Driven. Class 4. Air Compressor; Combination - Small Equipment Operator; Directional Boring Machine; Generators; Heaters, Mechanical; Hydraulic Power Unit (Pile Driving, Extracting, or Drilling); Light Plants, All (1 through 5); Pumps, over 3" (1 to 3 not to exceed a total of 300 ft.); Pumps, Well Points; Vacuum Trucks (excluding hose work); Welding Machines (2 through 5); Winches, 4 Small Electric Drill Winches. Class 5. SkidSteer Loader (all); Brick Forklifts; Oilers. Class 6. Field Mechanics and Field Welders Class 7. Dowell Machine with Air Compressor; Gradall and machines of like nature.
OPERATING ENGINEER - FLOATING
Class 1. Craft Foreman; Master Mechanic; Diver/Wet Tender; Engineer; Engineer (Hydraulic Dredge). Class 2. Crane/Backhoe Operator; Boat Operator with towing endorsement; Mechanic/Welder; Assistant Engineer (Hydraulic Dredge); Leverman (Hydraulic Dredge); Diver Tender. Class 3. Deck Equipment Operator, Machineryman, Maintenance of Crane (over 50 ton capacity) or Backhoe (115,000 lbs. or more); Tug/Launch Operator; Loader/Dozer and like equipment on Barge, Breakwater Wall, Slip/Dock, or Scow, Deck Machinery, etc. Class 4. Deck Equipment Operator, Machineryman/Fireman (4 Equipment Units or More); Off Road Trucks; Deck Hand, Tug Engineer, Crane Maintenance (50 Ton Capacity and Under) or Backhoe Weighing (115,000 pounds or less); Assistant Tug Operator. Class 5. Friction or Lattice Boom Cranes. Class 6. ROV Pilot, ROV Tender
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 Will County
As IDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Operating Engineer, Class 5Floating$133.20
- Operating Engineer, Class 1Floating$131.70
- Operating Engineer, Class 2Floating$130.20
- Operating Engineer, Class 3Floating$125.70
- Operating Engineer, Class 5Building$125.60
- Operating Engineer, Class 7Building$124.85
- Operating Engineer, Class 6Highway$123.05
- Operating Engineer, Class 6Building$122.85
- Operating Engineer, Class 1Building$121.85
- Operating Engineer, Class 4Floating$121.20
- Operating Engineer, Class 6Floating$121.20
- Operating Engineer, Class 7Highway$121.05
- Operating Engineer, Class 2Building$120.55
- Operating Engineer, Class 1Highway$120.05
- Operating Engineer, Class 2Highway$119.50
- Operating Engineer, Class 3Building$118.00
- Operating Engineer, Class 3Highway$117.45
- Operating Engineer, Class 4Building$116.25
- Operating Engineer, Class 4Highway$116.05
- Operating Engineer, Class 5Highway$114.85
| Trade and class | Base + fringes | Base | Fringes | OT Mon–Fri |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Engineer, Class 1Building | $121.85 | $68.80 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 2Building | $120.55 | $67.50 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 3Building | $118.00 | $64.95 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 4Building | $116.25 | $63.20 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 5Building | $125.60 | $72.55 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 6Building | $122.85 | $69.80 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 7Building | $124.85 | $71.80 | $53.05 | 2.0× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 1Floating | $131.70 | $78.55 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 2Floating | $130.20 | $77.05 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 3Floating | $125.70 | $72.55 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 4Floating | $121.20 | $68.05 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 5Floating | $133.20 | $80.05 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 6Floating | $121.20 | $68.05 | $53.15 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 1Highway | $120.05 | $67.00 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 2Highway | $119.50 | $66.45 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 3Highway | $117.45 | $64.40 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 4Highway | $116.05 | $63.00 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 5Highway | $114.85 | $61.80 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 6Highway | $123.05 | $70.00 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
| Operating Engineer, Class 7Highway | $121.05 | $68.00 | $53.05 | 1.5× |
How Will 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
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Will Countybase $68.80$121.85
- Kankakee Countybase $68.80$121.85
- Grundy Countybase $68.80$121.85
- LaSalle Countybase $67.00$120.05
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 Will County are the same as in 2 other counties: Cook, Lake. The closest county with a different rate is LaSalle County, at $120.05.
| County | Classification | Base + fringes | Base | vs Will County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | |
| Kankakee County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
| Grundy County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
| Kendall County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
| Cook County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
| DuPage County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
| Kane County | Operating Engineer, Class 1 (building) | $121.85 | $68.80 | same |
Illinois operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from IDOL on this rate
- Will 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 $121.85. 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 Will County, posted October 19, 2026, page 2: labor.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idol/laws-rules/conmed/documents/fy27/20261019/Will.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 Will County as CSV · Report an error