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Cherokee County, KS · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Cherokee County, Kansas
$17.67an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$15.72 base wage + $1.95 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUKS2015-013
$19.19an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$17.00 base wage + $2.19 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUKS2019-010
$22.81an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$18.84 base wage + $3.97 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUKS2014-021
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Cherokee County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $17.67 an hour: a $15.72 base wage plus $1.95 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KS20260044 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $17.67 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination KS20260044, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUKS2015-013 (July 8, 2015). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Cherokee County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $19.19 an hour: a $17.00 base wage plus $2.19 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KS20260071 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $19.19 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination KS20260071, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUKS2019-010 (May 9, 2019). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Cherokee County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $22.81 an hour: a $18.84 base wage plus $3.97 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KS20260036 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $22.81 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination KS20260036, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUKS2014-021 (July 9, 2014). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). Kansas repealed its law in 1987 (DOL state table).
DOL lists 27 operating engineer rates for Cherokee County, from $13.64 to $59.63 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $15.72 + $1.95
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) | $15.72 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.95 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $17.67 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $17.00 + $2.19
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) | $17.00 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $2.19 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.19 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $18.84 + $3.97
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) | $18.84 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $3.97 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $22.81 |
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 Kansas change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Cherokee County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUKS2015-013 | $15.72 | $1.95 | $17.67 | KS20260044 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: DRILL RIG CAISSONSHighwayENGI0101-002 | $38.83 | $20.80 | $59.63 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| SERVICEMAN: EQUIPMENTHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $16.33 | $1.74 | $18.07 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROTO MILLHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $17.80 | $0.00 | $17.80 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: TRACTORHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $16.24 | $0.00 | $16.24 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: SCREEDHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $15.56 | $0.00 | $15.56 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: SCRAPERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $15.68 | $0.00 | $15.68 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $15.95 | $0.00 | $15.95 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUKS2019-010 | $16.03 | $0.00 | $16.03 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $20.51 | $0.00 | $20.51 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLEHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $13.92 | $0.00 | $13.92 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $15.75 | $0.00 | $15.75 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $17.89 | $1.67 | $19.56 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: DISTRIBUTORHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $15.19 | $0.00 | $15.19 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $20.22 | $7.66 | $27.88 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINEHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $21.11 | $0.00 | $21.11 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $17.17 | $2.37 | $19.54 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $13.64 | $0.00 | $13.64 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $16.71 | $0.00 | $16.71 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $17.00 | $2.19 | $19.19 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ASPHALT PLANTHighwaySUKS2019-010 | $14.81 | $0.00 | $14.81 | KS20260071 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: TRACTORHeavySUKS2014-021 | $15.90 | $0.00 | $15.90 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: SCRAPERHeavySUKS2014-021 | $15.68 | $0.00 | $15.68 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUKS2014-021 | $16.17 | $0.00 | $16.17 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHeavySUKS2014-021 | $28.00 | $0.00 | $28.00 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUKS2014-021 | $16.75 | $0.00 | $16.75 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUKS2014-021 | $18.84 | $3.97 | $22.81 | KS20260036 Mod 1 |
How Cherokee 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 Kansas
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Cherokee Countybase $15.72$17.67
- Crawford Countybase $15.72$17.67
- Labette Countybase $15.72$17.67
- Linn Countybase $47.29$69.71
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 Cherokee County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cherokee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | |
| Crawford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
| Labette County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
| Neosho County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
| Bourbon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
| Montgomery County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
| Allen County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $15.72 | $17.67 | same |
Kansas 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 KS20260044 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/KS20260044/1
We read every active Kansas 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 Cherokee County as CSV · Report an error