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Kennebec County, ME · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Kennebec County, Maine
$49.06an hour, base wage + fringe benefits · Crane and Tower Operators
$40.43 base wage + $8.63 fringe benefits · Building 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes) · Midcoast region
On Maine public works in Kennebec County, an operating engineer working as crane and tower operators must be paid at least $49.06 an hour: a $40.43 base wage plus $8.63 in benefits.
MDOL 2026 rates, effective January 10, 2026; this rate, effective January 10, 2026. A rate written into a contract "must remain unchanged during the time the contract is in effect" (26 MRSA §1306). Checked against maine.gov on October 25, 2026.
MDOL lists 27 operating engineer rates for Kennebec County, from $28.82 to $73.34 an hour. See all of them.
MDOL's website rates "are for reference only". Bidders get the project-specific determination from the agency soliciting bids (§1306).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $40.43 + $8.63
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. MDOL prints the 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) | $40.43 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $8.63 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $49.06 |
When does this rate change?
- A rate in a contract stays unchanged for the life of the contract (26 MRSA §1306), so later sets don't change existing jobs.
- MDOL publishes one set a year. The 2026 set took effect January 10, 2026 after a 30-day notice period; the next comes after the July 2026 survey (MDOL 2026 rates).
Every operating engineer rate in Kennebec County
As MDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldozer OperatorBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $30.62 | $5.38 | $36.00 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Conveyor Operators and TendersBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $30.17 | $13.77 | $43.94 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crane and Tower OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $40.43 | $8.63 | $49.06 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crushing Grinding and Polishing Machine OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $26.15 | $3.24 | $29.39 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Excavator OperatorBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $34.12 | $6.49 | $40.61 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $24.61 | $4.21 | $28.82 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Loading Machine and Dragline OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $29.71 | $4.79 | $34.50 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Equipment OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $39.74 | $3.67 | $43.41 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Paving Surfacing and Tamping Equipment OperatorsBuilding 2 (other than 1 or 2 family homes)Midcoast region | $30.74 | $10.67 | $41.41 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Bulldozer OperatorHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $30.62 | $5.38 | $36.00 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Conveyor Operators and TendersHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $30.17 | $13.77 | $43.94 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crane and Tower OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $40.43 | $8.63 | $49.06 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crushing Grinding and Polishing Machine OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $26.00 | $3.11 | $29.11 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Excavator OperatorHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $28.90 | $7.52 | $36.42 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $24.61 | $4.21 | $28.82 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Loading Machine and Dragline OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $28.05 | $4.70 | $32.75 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Equipment OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $29.41 | $5.61 | $35.02 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Paving Surfacing and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHighway & EarthworkMidcoast region | $30.17 | $13.80 | $43.97 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Bulldozer OperatorHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $40.90 | $32.21 | $73.11 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Conveyor Operators and TendersHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $30.17 | $13.77 | $43.94 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crane and Tower OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $41.32 | $11.81 | $53.13 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Crushing Grinding and Polishing Machine OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $26.15 | $3.24 | $29.39 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Excavator OperatorHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $41.13 | $32.21 | $73.34 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $24.61 | $4.21 | $28.82 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Loading Machine and Dragline OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $41.13 | $32.21 | $73.34 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Equipment OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $39.05 | $27.38 | $66.43 | Jan 10, 2026 |
| Paving Surfacing and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHeavy & BridgeMidcoast region | $37.05 | $7.86 | $44.91 | Jan 10, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Kennebec County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. Maine's law excludes projects under Davis-Bacon with federally set rates, so a job uses one schedule or the other (26 M.R.S. 1304).
We don't put a federal figure next to MDOL's here, because the federal determinations split this trade into groups that don't line up with MDOL's. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | OPERATOR: CRANESUME2014-018 | $23.98 | $31.44 | ME20260009 Mod 1 |
| Building | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOESUME2014-018 | $20.42 | $23.54 | ME20260009 Mod 1 |
| Highway | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE, MILLING MACHINE, PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE), ROLLER ASPHALTENGI0004-005 | $30.17 | $43.97 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: ROLLER (EARTH)SUME2014-032 | $16.43 | $19.83 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: SCREEDSUME2014-032 | $19.43 | $24.33 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: MECHANICSUME2014-032 | $21.91 | $30.46 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: LOADERSUME2014-032 | $18.59 | $24.12 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: BULLDOZERSUME2014-032 | $17.30 | $20.80 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERSUME2014-032 | $19.09 | $24.29 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERSUME2014-032 | $21.98 | $26.83 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Highway | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOESUME2014-032 | $19.52 | $24.67 | ME20260037 Mod 1 |
| Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERENGI0004-002 | $43.60 | $77.46 | ME20260022 Mod 1 |
| Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE,EXCAVATOR, LOADER, TRACKHOEENGI0004-002 | $43.86 | $77.72 | ME20260022 Mod 1 |
| Heavy | OPERATOR: CRANESUME2014-003 | $24.57 | $31.46 | ME20260022 Mod 1 |
| Residential | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: FRONT END LOADERSUME1988-002 | $7.50 | $7.50 | ME20260005 Mod 1 |
| Residential | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BULLDOZERSUME1988-002 | $7.25 | $7.25 | ME20260005 Mod 1 |
| Residential | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: ASPHALT ROLLERSUME1988-002 | $7.50 | $7.50 | ME20260005 Mod 1 |
| Residential | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE)SUME1988-002 | $7.25 | $7.25 | ME20260005 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Maine Davis-Bacon changes
How Kennebec 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 Maine
Wage and benefits, nearby
- Kennebec Countybase $40.43$49.06
- Lincoln Countybase $40.43$49.06
- Androscoggin Countybase $40.43$49.06
- Sagadahoc Countybase $40.43$49.06
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current MDOL rates. Rates are published per county. "Locality" in the law is where the work is done plus the areas labor is recruited from (26 MRSA §1304(6)).
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Kennebec County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kennebec County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | |
| Lincoln County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
| Androscoggin County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
| Sagadahoc County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
| Waldo County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
| Knox County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
| Oxford County | Crane and Tower Operators | $40.43 | $49.06 | same |
Maine operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from MDOL on this rate
- MDOL MDOL determination, page 1
- MDOL's 2026 fair minimum wage rates
- MDOL lists journey-level rates. Apprentice rates are those in a registered sponsorship agreement (26 MRSA §1314).
Are you being paid this rate?
You must get at least the minimum wage, and wage plus benefits of at least the total. Contractors post the rates on site and file payroll monthly with the public authority. An underpaid worker can recover the difference plus an equal penalty (26 MRSA §1312). MDOL Wage and Hour: (207) 623-7900.
Source
Department of Labor (MDOL), MDOL determination MDOL-2026-kennebec-b2, effective January 10, 2026, page 1: www.maine.gov/labor/docs/2026/laborstats/prevailingwage/Kennebec/2026%20B2%20Kennebec%20County.pdf
We read every row of MDOL's 2026 county and statewide PDFs and check every number with a second, separate reader. Wage plus benefit equals MDOL's printed total except for 28 one-cent rounding differences; we show the printed total. How we check · Download Kennebec County as CSV · Report an error