Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Cedar County, Iowa

$42.66an hour, base + fringe

$27.31 wage + $15.35 fringe benefits · Building · SUIA2016-009

On federally funded or assisted building construction in Cedar County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $42.66 an hour: a $27.31 base wage plus $15.35 in fringe benefits, under wage determination IA20260036 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $42.66 is our sum of the two.

Wage determination IA20260036, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUIA2016-009 (July 19, 2016). 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 20 operating engineer rates for Cedar County, from $16.00 to $84.75 an hour. See all of them.

Base wage and fringe benefits: $27.31 + $15.35

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)	$27.31
Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized)	$15.35
Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total)	$42.66

When this rate changes

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 Cedar County

As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.

POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEBuilding · ENGI0150-037$84.75
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 1 CRANE (FRICTION OR HYDRAULIC, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR ATTACHMENTS); TOW OR PUSH BOAT (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIE S)Heavy · ENGI0150-008$84.75
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuilding · ENGI0150-010$82.75
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 2 ASPHALT HEATER-PLANER UNIT; ASPHALT PAVER; ASPHALT PAVER SCREED; ASPHALT PLANT; AUTOMATIC CURBING MACHINE; BACKFILLER (THROW BUCKET); BLASTHOLER SELF-PROPELLED ROTARY DRILL OR SIMILAR MACHINES; BOOM TRACTOR OR SIDE BOOM; BORING MACHINE (DIRECTIONAL, VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL); BUILDING HOIST (1,2 OR 3 DRUMS); CAISSON AUGURING MACHINES; CENTRAL REDI-MIX PLANT; CHIP SPREADER; CLEANING & PRIMING MACHINE; COMBINATION BACKHOE FRONT END LOADER; COMBINATION CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINE AND FLOAT; CONCRETE BREAKER OR HYDRO-HAMMER; CONCRETE CONVEYOR OR PUMP; CONCRETE PAVER; CONCRETE SPREADER; CONCRETE WHEEL SAW (LARGE SELF-PROPELLED); CRUSHER (STONE, CONCRETE, ASPHALT, ETC.); CURING-TINNING MACHINE; DIPPER DREDGE CRANE MAN; DIPPER DREDGE OPERATOR; DUAL PURPOSE TRUCK (BOOM, WINCH, ETC.); EXCAVATOR; FARM-TYPE TRACTOR OPERATING SCOOP OR SCRAPER OR WITH POWER ATTACHMENT; FORKLIFT (6000 LB. CAPACITY); GRADER, MOTOR GRADER, MOTOR PATROL, AUTO GRADER, FORM GRADER, PULL GRADER, SUB GRADER, ELEVATING GRADER; GROUP EQUIPMENT GREASER; GUARD RAIL POST DRIVER; HOISTS; HYDRAULIC DREDGE LEVERMAN OR ENGINEER; HYDRO-VAC TRUCK MOUNTED OR PULL TYPE, AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT; LASER SCREED; LOADER (TRACK, RUBBER TIRE OR ARTICULATED); LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER; MECHANIC-WELDER; MECHANICAL LOADED LOG CHIPPERS OR SIMILAR MACHINES; MILLING MACHINE; MUCKING MACHINE; PILE DRIVER; PIPE BENDING; PUG MILL; ROAD WIDENER-SHOULDER SPREADER; SCRAPER (SELF-PROPELLED); SELF-PROPELLED ROLLER OR TIRE ROLLER (ON ASPHALT OR BLACKTOP), SHEEP FOOT OR PAD FOOT COMPACTOR; SHOVEL; SLIP FORM PAVER; STEEL TRACK-TYPE TRACTOR (DOZER, PUSH CAT, ETC.); TRANSFER OR SHUTTLE BUGGY; TRENCHING MACHINE (40 H.P. & OVER); WORK BOAT. (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIES)Heavy · ENGI0150-008$82.75
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 4 AIR COMPRESSOR (400 C.F.M. OR OVER); COMPACT LOADER (RUBBER TIRE, TRACK & UTILITY); ENGINE DRIVEN WELDING MACHINE; MECHANICAL HEATER (OTHER THAN STEAM BOILER); SMALL OUTBOARD MOTOR BOAT (SAFETY BOAT & LIFE BOAT); WATER PUMP (MORE THAN ONE WELL POINT PUMP). (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIES)Heavy · ENGI0150-008$79.05
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 OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)Heavy · ENGI0234-002$58.81
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: 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
OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuilding · SUIA2016-009$50.40
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: LOADERBuilding · SUIA2016-009$42.99
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuilding · SUIA2016-009$42.66
OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuilding · SUIA2016-009$30.67
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATORResidential · SUIA2008-007$16.00

Hourly rate of each operating engineer classification in Cedar County, highest first, split into wage and fringe benefits.

Classification	Base + fringe	Base	Fringe benefits	WD
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingENGI0150-010	$82.75	$41.50	$41.25	IA20260036 Mod 1
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingENGI0150-037	$84.75	$43.50	$41.25	IA20260036 Mod 1
OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUIA2016-009	$42.99	$25.80	$17.19	IA20260036 Mod 1
OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUIA2016-009	$30.67	$22.31	$8.36	IA20260036 Mod 1
OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUIA2016-009	$50.40	$27.55	$22.85	IA20260036 Mod 1
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUIA2016-009	$42.66	$27.31	$15.35	IA20260036 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.)	$52.37	$35.32	$17.05	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	$59.20	$39.82	$19.38	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)	$48.60	$31.55	$17.05	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	$55.05	$35.67	$19.38	IA20260028 Mod 4
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 1 CRANE (FRICTION OR HYDRAULIC, REGARDLESS OF SIZE OR ATTACHMENTS); TOW OR PUSH BOAT (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIE S)HeavyENGI0150-008	$84.75	$43.50	$41.25	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 2 ASPHALT HEATER-PLANER UNIT; ASPHALT PAVER; ASPHALT PAVER SCREED; ASPHALT PLANT; AUTOMATIC CURBING MACHINE; BACKFILLER (THROW BUCKET); BLASTHOLER SELF-PROPELLED ROTARY DRILL OR SIMILAR MACHINES; BOOM TRACTOR OR SIDE BOOM; BORING MACHINE (DIRECTIONAL, VERTICAL OR HORIZONTAL); BUILDING HOIST (1,2 OR 3 DRUMS); CAISSON AUGURING MACHINES; CENTRAL REDI-MIX PLANT; CHIP SPREADER; CLEANING & PRIMING MACHINE; COMBINATION BACKHOE FRONT END LOADER; COMBINATION CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINE AND FLOAT; CONCRETE BREAKER OR HYDRO-HAMMER; CONCRETE CONVEYOR OR PUMP; CONCRETE PAVER; CONCRETE SPREADER; CONCRETE WHEEL SAW (LARGE SELF-PROPELLED); CRUSHER (STONE, CONCRETE, ASPHALT, ETC.); CURING-TINNING MACHINE; DIPPER DREDGE CRANE MAN; DIPPER DREDGE OPERATOR; DUAL PURPOSE TRUCK (BOOM, WINCH, ETC.); EXCAVATOR; FARM-TYPE TRACTOR OPERATING SCOOP OR SCRAPER OR WITH POWER ATTACHMENT; FORKLIFT (6000 LB. CAPACITY); GRADER, MOTOR GRADER, MOTOR PATROL, AUTO GRADER, FORM GRADER, PULL GRADER, SUB GRADER, ELEVATING GRADER; GROUP EQUIPMENT GREASER; GUARD RAIL POST DRIVER; HOISTS; HYDRAULIC DREDGE LEVERMAN OR ENGINEER; HYDRO-VAC TRUCK MOUNTED OR PULL TYPE, AND SIMILAR EQUIPMENT; LASER SCREED; LOADER (TRACK, RUBBER TIRE OR ARTICULATED); LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER; MECHANIC-WELDER; MECHANICAL LOADED LOG CHIPPERS OR SIMILAR MACHINES; MILLING MACHINE; MUCKING MACHINE; PILE DRIVER; PIPE BENDING; PUG MILL; ROAD WIDENER-SHOULDER SPREADER; SCRAPER (SELF-PROPELLED); SELF-PROPELLED ROLLER OR TIRE ROLLER (ON ASPHALT OR BLACKTOP), SHEEP FOOT OR PAD FOOT COMPACTOR; SHOVEL; SLIP FORM PAVER; STEEL TRACK-TYPE TRACTOR (DOZER, PUSH CAT, ETC.); TRANSFER OR SHUTTLE BUGGY; TRENCHING MACHINE (40 H.P. & OVER); WORK BOAT. (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIES)HeavyENGI0150-008	$82.75	$41.50	$41.25	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP 4 AIR COMPRESSOR (400 C.F.M. OR OVER); COMPACT LOADER (RUBBER TIRE, TRACK & UTILITY); ENGINE DRIVEN WELDING MACHINE; MECHANICAL HEATER (OTHER THAN STEAM BOILER); SMALL OUTBOARD MOTOR BOAT (SAFETY BOAT & LIFE BOAT); WATER PUMP (MORE THAN ONE WELL POINT PUMP). (CEDAR, CLINTON, DES MOINES, LEE, LOUISA, MUSCATINE AND SCOTT COUNTIES)HeavyENGI0150-008	$79.05	$37.80	$41.25	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$62.22	$44.07	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP A (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$61.74	$43.59	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$61.53	$43.38	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP B (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$61.07	$42.92	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSISSIPPI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$59.20	$41.05	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: GROUP C (REMAINING COUNTIES MISSOURI RIVER)HeavyENGI0234-002	$58.81	$40.66	$18.15	IA20260002 Mod 2
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATORResidentialSUIA2008-007	$16.00	$16.00	$0.00	IA20260010 Mod 1

How Cedar 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

Cedar $42.66410142

$17.41Harrison$84.75Lee

CedarNearby: Muscatine $42.66, Jones $32.25, Johnson $32.25Each column is a group of counties with about the same main rate; its height is how many. 17 counties pay more than Cedar, 13 the same, 68 less.

Wage and fringe benefits, nearby

Cedar Countybase $27.31$42.66
Muscatine Countybase $27.31$42.66
Jones Countybase $24.15$32.25
Johnson Countybase $24.15$32.25

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 + fringe	Base	vs Cedar County
Cedar County	OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE	$42.66	$27.31
Muscatine County	OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE	$42.66	$27.31	same
Clinton County	OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE	$42.66	$27.31	same
Jones County	OPERATOR: CRANE	$32.25	$24.15	−$10.41
Johnson County	OPERATOR: CRANE	$32.25	$24.15	−$10.41
Scott County	OPERATOR: CRANE	$32.25	$24.15	−$10.41
Linn County	OPERATOR: CRANE	$32.25	$24.15	−$10.41

Iowa operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map

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 IA20260036 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/IA20260036/1

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 Cedar County as CSV · Report an error