Skip to content

Home / Kentucky / Operating Engineer

Kentucky · Operating Engineer

Kentucky operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county

An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Kentucky runs from $54.59 an hour in Woodford County to $60.25 in Trigg County. The median county is $54.59.

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.

Todd County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourScott County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLee County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMcLean County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourFranklin County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourEdmonson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCarroll County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGraves County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMonroe County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourOwsley County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourJackson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWhitley County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHardin County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBreckinridge County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourUnion County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWayne County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourShelby County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWarren County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourRockcastle County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHancock County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCasey County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourJessamine County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHenry County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCumberland County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHopkins County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourJohnson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourKnott County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourKnox County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLawrence County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMadison County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLewis County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLivingston County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMcCracken County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHarlan County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMagoffin County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMartin County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMetcalfe County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourNicholas County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourPerry County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLarue County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourPike County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourPowell County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourTrigg County operating engineer: $60.25 per hourFleming County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBath County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourClay County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCrittenden County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourFulton County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBoyd County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCarlisle County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHenderson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLaurel County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWolfe County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCaldwell County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBoyle County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourPulaski County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHart County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourOhio County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHarrison County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourTaylor County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBarren County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMenifee County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourButler County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMeade County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLincoln County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBell County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourOwen County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGallatin County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBourbon County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBracken County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourRussell County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLyon County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGrayson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourDaviess County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCampbell County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourRowan County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGreen County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMcCreary County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourAllen County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourClinton County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourJefferson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourFloyd County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMarion County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourPendleton County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBoone County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLogan County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourSpencer County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourRobertson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMarshall County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMorgan County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMuhlenberg County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourSimpson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBallard County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourAdair County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGreenup County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLeslie County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCarter County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourKenton County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourClark County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourCalloway County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMason County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourElliott County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGarrard County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourLetcher County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourTrimble County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourHickman County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourFayette County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWashington County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWoodford County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourChristian County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourEstill County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourGrant County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMercer County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourMontgomery County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourWebster County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBullitt County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourAnderson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourNelson County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourBreathitt County operating engineer: $54.59 per hourOldham County operating engineer: $54.59 per hour
$54$54$54$54$54$60Operating Engineer, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Kentucky?

10 groups of counties with identical rates and 59 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Trigg County1 county$60.25
  2. Floyd County group15 counties$54.59
  3. Barren County group12 counties$54.59
  4. Muhlenberg County group9 counties$54.59
  5. Boyle County group8 counties$54.59
  6. Lincoln County group6 counties$54.59
  7. Scott County group3 counties$54.59
  8. Allen County group2 counties$54.59
  9. Boyd County group2 counties$54.59
  10. Grayson County group2 counties$54.59
  11. Spencer County group2 counties$54.59
  12. Adair County1 county$54.59
  13. Ballard County1 county$54.59
  14. Bell County1 county$54.59
  15. Boone County1 county$54.59
  16. Bracken County1 county$54.59
  17. Bullitt County1 county$54.59
  18. Calloway County1 county$54.59
  19. Campbell County1 county$54.59
  20. Carroll County1 county$54.59
  21. Carter County1 county$54.59
  22. Christian County1 county$54.59
  23. Clark County1 county$54.59
  24. Daviess County1 county$54.59
  25. Edmonson County1 county$54.59
  26. Elliott County1 county$54.59
  27. Fayette County1 county$54.59
  28. Franklin County1 county$54.59
  29. Gallatin County1 county$54.59
  30. Grant County1 county$54.59
  31. Graves County1 county$54.59
  32. Hancock County1 county$54.59
  33. Hardin County1 county$54.59
  34. Harrison County1 county$54.59
  35. Henderson County1 county$54.59
  36. Henry County1 county$54.59
  37. Hopkins County1 county$54.59
  38. Jefferson County1 county$54.59
  39. Jessamine County1 county$54.59
  40. Johnson County1 county$54.59

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Trigg CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL)$60.25 $40.65 
Floyd County group, 15 localities: Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, WolfePOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Barren County group, 12 localities: Barren, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Hart, Knox, McCreary, Metcalfe, Russell, Taylor, WaynePOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Muhlenberg County group, 9 localities: Caldwell, Carlisle, Crittenden, Fulton, Hickman, Livingston, Muhlenberg, Ohio, ToddPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Boyle County group, 8 localities: Anderson, Bath, Boyle, Fleming, Lewis, Nicholas, Robertson, WashingtonPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Lincoln County group, 6 localities: Estill, Garrard, Lincoln, Menifee, Powell, RockcastlePOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Scott County group, 3 localities: Bourbon, Scott, WoodfordPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Allen County group, 2 localities: Allen, ButlerPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Boyd County group, 2 localities: Boyd, GreenupPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Grayson County group, 2 localities: Breckinridge, GraysonPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Spencer County group, 2 localities: Spencer, TrimblePOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Adair CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Ballard CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Bell CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Boone CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Bracken CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Bullitt CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Calloway CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Campbell CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Carroll CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Carter CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Christian CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Clark CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Daviess CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Edmonson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Elliott CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Fayette CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Franklin CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Gallatin CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Grant CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Graves CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Hancock CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Hardin CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Harrison CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Henderson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Henry CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Hopkins CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Jefferson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Jessamine CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Johnson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Kenton CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Larue CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Laurel CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Lawrence CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Logan CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Lyon CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Madison CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Marion CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Marshall CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Mason CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
McCracken CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
McLean CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Meade CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Mercer CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Monroe CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Montgomery CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Nelson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Oldham CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Owen CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Pendleton CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Pike CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Pulaski CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Rowan CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Shelby CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Simpson CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Union CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Warren CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Webster CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 
Whitley CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER)$54.59 $34.99 

10 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 59 counties with rates of their own.

Questions about Kentucky operating engineer pay

What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Jefferson County?

$54.59 an hour: a $34.99 base wage plus $19.60 in fringe benefits, under wage determination KY20260093, modification 1. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Jefferson County.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Jefferson County the $54.59 total is a $34.99 base wage plus $19.60 in fringe benefits, about 36% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky, the 120 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 69 distinct sets of rates, and 10 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 15 counties (the Floyd County group).