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Benton County, IA · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Benton County, Iowa
$32.25an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · CRANE
$24.15 base wage + $8.10 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: CRANE · SUIA2016-053
$53.64an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$35.29 base wage + $18.35 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 3- BOBCAT/SKIDSTEER/SKID LOADER; ROLLERS · ENGI0234-009
$52.37an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$35.32 base wage + $17.05 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed.) · SAIA2026-001
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Benton County, an operating engineer working as crane must be paid at least $32.25 an hour: a $24.15 base wage plus $8.10 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260078 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $32.25 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination IA20260078, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUIA2016-053 (July 19, 2016). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Benton County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $53.64 an hour: a $35.29 base wage plus $18.35 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260024 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $53.64 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination IA20260024, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier ENGI0234-009 (May 1, 2025). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway and heavy construction in Benton County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $52.37 an hour: a $35.32 base wage plus $17.05 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260028 (modification 4). DOL prints no total, so $52.37 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination IA20260028, modification 4, published June 25, 2026, for highway and heavy construction; rate identifier SAIA2026-001 (May 13, 2026). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Iowa has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
DOL lists 21 operating engineer rates for Benton County, from $30.45 to $62.22 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $24.15 + $8.10
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) | $24.15 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $8.10 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $32.25 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $35.29 + $18.35
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) | $35.29 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $18.35 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $53.64 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $35.32 + $17.05
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) | $35.32 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $17.05 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $52.37 |
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 Iowa change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Benton County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$62.22
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$61.74
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$61.53
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$61.07
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 2 (The Counties of Dubuque for all Crafts and Linn County for all Crafts except Carpenters.)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$59.20
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$59.20
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 4 (Story, Black Hawk, Cedar, Jasper, Jones, Jackson, Louisa, Madison, and Marion Counties; Clinton County (except the City of Clinton), Johnson County, Muscatine County (except the City of Muscatine), the City of Council Bluffs, Lee County and Des Moines County.)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$58.95
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$58.81
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuilding · ENGI0234-003$57.35
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 1- BACKHOE (1 CY AND OVER); EXCAVATORResidential · ENGI0234-009$57.35
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADERBuilding · ENGI0234-003$55.97
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 2- BACKHOE (UNDER 1 CY); BULLDOZER; GRADER/BLADE; LOADER; SCRAPERResidential · ENGI0234-009$55.97
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 4 (Story, Black Hawk, Cedar, Jasper, Jones, Jackson, Louisa, Madison, and Marion Counties; Clinton County (except the City of Clinton), Johnson County, Muscatine County (except the City of Muscatine), the City of Council Bluffs, Lee County and Des Moines County.)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$55.48
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 2 (The Counties of Dubuque for all Crafts and Linn County for all Crafts except Carpenters.)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$55.05
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER(ALL TYPES), ROLLERBuilding · ENGI0234-003$53.64
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 3- BOBCAT/SKIDSTEER/SKID LOADER; ROLLERSResidential · ENGI0234-009$53.64
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed.)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$52.37
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed)Highway, Heavy · SAIA2026-001$48.60
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuilding · SUIA2016-053$39.69
- OPERATOR: CRANEBuilding · SUIA2016-053$32.25
- OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuilding · SUIA2016-053$30.45
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER(ALL TYPES), ROLLERBuildingENGI0234-003 | $35.29 | $18.35 | $53.64 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingENGI0234-003 | $37.62 | $18.35 | $55.97 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingENGI0234-003 | $39.00 | $18.35 | $57.35 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUIA2016-053 | $22.96 | $7.49 | $30.45 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingSUIA2016-053 | $24.15 | $8.10 | $32.25 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUIA2016-053 | $26.13 | $13.56 | $39.69 | IA20260078 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed.)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed.) | $35.32 | $17.05 | $52.37 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 4 (Story, Black Hawk, Cedar, Jasper, Jones, Jackson, Louisa, Madison, and Marion Counties; Clinton County (except the City of Clinton), Johnson County, Muscatine County (except the City of Muscatine), the City of Council Bluffs, Lee County and Des Moines County.)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 | $36.50 | $22.45 | $58.95 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP A - All terrain (off road) forklift; asphalt breakdown roller (vibratory); asphalt laydown machine; asphalt plant; asphalt screed; bulldozer (finish); central mix plant; concrete pump; crane; crawler tractor pulling scraper; directional drill (60,000 (lbs) pullback and above); dragline and power shovel; dredge engineer; excavator (over 1/2 cu. yd.); front end loader (4 cy and over); horizontal boring machine; master mechanic; milling machine (over 350 hp); motor grader (finish); push cat; rubber tired backhoe (over 1/2 cu. yd.); scraper (12 cu. yd. and over or finish); Self-propelled rotary mixer/road reclaimer; sidebroom tractor; slipform portland concrete paver; tow or push boat; trenching machine (Cleveland 80 or similar) ZONE 2 (The Counties of Dubuque for all Crafts and Linn County for all Crafts except Carpenters.)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 | $39.82 | $19.38 | $59.20 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 5 (All areas of the state not listed) | $31.55 | $17.05 | $48.60 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 4 (Story, Black Hawk, Cedar, Jasper, Jones, Jackson, Louisa, Madison, and Marion Counties; Clinton County (except the City of Clinton), Johnson County, Muscatine County (except the City of Muscatine), the City of Council Bluffs, Lee County and Des Moines County.)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 | $33.03 | $22.45 | $55.48 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP D - Boiler; compressor; cure and texture machine; dow box; farm type or utility tractor (under 75 hp.) pulling disk, roller or other attachments; group greaser tender; light plants; mechanic tender; mechanical broom; mechanical heaters; oiler; pumps (under three inch diameter); tree chipping machine; truck crane driver/oiler. ZONE 2 (The Counties of Dubuque for all Crafts and Linn County for all Crafts except Carpenters.)Highway, HeavySAIA2026-001 | $35.67 | $19.38 | $55.05 | IA20260028 Mod 4 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $44.07 | $18.15 | $62.22 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $43.59 | $18.15 | $61.74 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $43.38 | $18.15 | $61.53 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $42.92 | $18.15 | $61.07 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $41.05 | $18.15 | $59.20 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002 | $40.66 | $18.15 | $58.81 | IA20260002 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 3- BOBCAT/SKIDSTEER/SKID LOADER; ROLLERSResidentialENGI0234-009 | $35.29 | $18.35 | $53.64 | IA20260024 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 2- BACKHOE (UNDER 1 CY); BULLDOZER; GRADER/BLADE; LOADER; SCRAPERResidentialENGI0234-009 | $37.62 | $18.35 | $55.97 | IA20260024 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: CLASS 1- BACKHOE (1 CY AND OVER); EXCAVATORResidentialENGI0234-009 | $39.00 | $18.35 | $57.35 | IA20260024 Mod 1 |
How Benton 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 Iowa
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Benton Countybase $24.15$32.25
- Linn Countybase $24.15$32.25
- Tama Countybase $27.31$42.66
- Iowa Countybase $27.31$42.66
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.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Benton County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tama County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $27.31 | $42.66 | +$10.41 |
| Iowa County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $27.31 | $42.66 | +$10.41 |
| Poweshiek County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $27.31 | $42.66 | +$10.41 |
| Buchanan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $26.64 | $41.11 | +$8.86 |
| Benton County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $24.15 | $32.25 | |
| Linn County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $24.15 | $32.25 | same |
| Black Hawk County | OPERATOR: CRANE | $24.15 | $32.25 | same |
Iowa 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 IA20260078 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/IA20260078/1
We read every active Iowa 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 Benton County as CSV · Report an error