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Kansas operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county
An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Kansas runs from $17.67 an hour in Woodson County to $69.71 in Linn County. The median county is $17.67.
Main operating engineer classification in each county, Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, as of October 25, 2026. 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)). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Kansas?
1 group of counties with identical rates and 92 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.
- Linn County1 county$69.71
- Franklin County1 county$68.31
- Johnson County1 county$68.31
- Miami County1 county$68.31
- Wyandotte County1 county$68.31
- Leavenworth County1 county$47.72
- Geary County1 county$45.68
- Pottawatomie County1 county$42.84
- Riley County1 county$42.84
- Doniphan County1 county$33.70
- Douglas County1 county$33.70
- Jackson County1 county$33.70
- Jefferson County1 county$33.70
- Osage County1 county$33.70
- Shawnee County1 county$33.70
- Wabaunsee County1 county$33.70
- Butler County1 county$23.99
- Harvey County1 county$23.99
- Sedgwick County1 county$23.99
- Sumner County1 county$23.99
- Phillips County group13 counties$17.67
- Allen County1 county$17.67
- Anderson County1 county$17.67
- Atchison County1 county$17.67
- Barber County1 county$17.67
- Barton County1 county$17.67
- Bourbon County1 county$17.67
- Brown County1 county$17.67
- Chase County1 county$17.67
- Chautauqua County1 county$17.67
- Cherokee County1 county$17.67
- Clark County1 county$17.67
- Clay County1 county$17.67
- Cloud County1 county$17.67
- Coffey County1 county$17.67
- Cowley County1 county$17.67
- Crawford County1 county$17.67
- Decatur County1 county$17.67
- Dickinson County1 county$17.67
- Ellis County1 county$17.67
Which counties pay which rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linn County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $69.71 | $47.29 |
| Franklin County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $68.31 | $45.89 |
| Johnson County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $68.31 | $45.89 |
| Miami County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $68.31 | $45.89 |
| Wyandotte County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE | $68.31 | $45.89 |
| Leavenworth County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $47.72 | $33.85 |
| Geary County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $45.68 | $32.88 |
| Pottawatomie County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $42.84 | $31.56 |
| Riley County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $42.84 | $31.56 |
| Doniphan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Douglas County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Jackson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Jefferson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Osage County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Shawnee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Wabaunsee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $33.70 | $26.69 |
| Butler County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.99 | $20.50 |
| Harvey County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.99 | $20.50 |
| Sedgwick County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.99 | $20.50 |
| Sumner County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.99 | $20.50 |
| Phillips County group, 13 localities: Cheyenne, Comanche, Edwards, Elk, Meade, Morton, Ness, Phillips, Rawlins, Rush, Smith, Stanton, Wichita | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Allen County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Anderson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Atchison County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Barber County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Barton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Bourbon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Brown County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Chase County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Chautauqua County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Cherokee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Clark County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Clay County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Cloud County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Coffey County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Cowley County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Crawford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Decatur County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Dickinson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Ellis County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Ellsworth County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Finney County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Ford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Gove County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Graham County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Grant County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Gray County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Greeley County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Greenwood County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Hamilton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Harper County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Haskell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Hodgeman County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Jewell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Kearny County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Kingman County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Kiowa County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Labette County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Lane County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Lincoln County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Logan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Lyon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Marion County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Marshall County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| McPherson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Mitchell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Montgomery County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Morris County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Nemaha County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Neosho County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Norton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Osborne County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Ottawa County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Pawnee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Pratt County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Reno County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Republic County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Rice County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Rooks County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Russell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Saline County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Scott County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Seward County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Sheridan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Sherman County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Stafford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Stevens County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Thomas County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Trego County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Wallace County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Washington County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Wilson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
| Woodson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $17.67 | $15.72 |
1 group of counties with identical DOL rates, and 92 counties with rates of their own.
Questions about Kansas operating engineer pay
What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Johnson County?
$68.31 an hour: a $45.89 base wage plus $22.42 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KS20260052, modification 1. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Johnson County.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Johnson County the $68.31 total is a $45.89 base wage plus $22.42 in fringe benefits, about 33% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Kansas?
Davis-Bacon rates are straight time. On contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires 1½ times the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (40 U.S.C. 3702). The fringe is owed for every hour at its straight-time amount.
Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?
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)).
Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?
DOL often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Kansas, the 105 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 93 distinct sets of rates, and 1 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 13 counties (the Phillips County group).