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Howard County, MD · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Howard County, Maryland
$61.10an hour, base + fringe
$42.00 wage + $19.10 fringe benefits · Building Construction · AD
On Maryland public works in Howard County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $61.10 an hour: a $42.00 base wage plus $19.10 in fringe benefits. DOL prints no total, so $61.10 is our sum of the two.
Maryland informational rates as printed October 25, 2026. A determination applies to a project advertised before it expires, and mid-year changes apply only to newly issued determinations (SFP 17-209; DOL FAQ #47). Checked against labor.maryland.gov on October 25, 2026.
DOL lists 42 operating engineer rates for Howard County, from $22.46 to $61.10 an hour. See all of them.
These are DOL's informational rates. The binding rates are in the project's wage determination, in the bid documents.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $42.00 + $19.10
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) | $42.00 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $19.10 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $61.10 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Howard County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. Maryland's law excludes the federally funded part of a contract that already pays Davis-Bacon rates (MD Labor FAQ).
We don't put a federal figure next to DOL's here, because the federal determinations split this trade into groups that don't line up with DOL's. The federal rows for this trade are below; match the classification to the work.
| Construction | Federal classification | Base + fringe | Base | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOESAMD2025-001 | $40.66 | $32.00 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERSAMD2025-001 | $48.35 | $33.23 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERSAMD2025-001 | $50.30 | $35.18 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANESAMD2025-001 | $61.10 | $42.00 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE - TOWERSAMD2025-001 | $61.10 | $42.00 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGSAMD2025-001 | $50.30 | $35.18 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORSAMD2025-001 | $50.30 | $35.18 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTSAMD2025-001 | $50.30 | $35.18 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERSAMD2025-001 | $34.98 | $28.00 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICSAMD2025-001 | $52.36 | $37.24 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHSAMD2025-001 | $44.72 | $29.60 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (Bobcat)SAMD2025-001 | $48.35 | $33.23 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTSAMD2025-002 | $47.15 | $33.10 | MD20260118 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | LINEWORKER/UNDERGROUND MECHANICSAMD2025-001 | $35.03 | $29.81 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOESAMD2025-001 | $48.05 | $34.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERSAMD2025-001 | $45.09 | $31.04 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERSAMD2025-001 | $48.05 | $34.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANESAMD2025-001 | $61.10 | $42.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGSAMD2025-001 | $48.05 | $34.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORSAMD2025-001 | $48.05 | $34.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTSAMD2025-001 | $45.09 | $31.04 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADALLSAMD2025-001 | $49.05 | $35.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERSAMD2025-001 | $49.05 | $35.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERSAMD2025-001 | $48.05 | $34.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICSAMD2025-001 | $49.05 | $35.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINESAMD2025-001 | $30.41 | $28.26 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERSAMD2025-001 | $22.46 | $21.00 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTSAMD2025-001 | $35.45 | $29.63 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHSAMD2025-001 | $45.09 | $31.04 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCREEDSAMD2025-001 | $45.71 | $29.23 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (Bobcat)SAMD2025-001 | $45.09 | $31.04 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Highway, Heavy | UNDERGROUND GAS MECHANICSAMD2025-001 | $35.41 | $28.79 | MD20260041 Mod 3 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: LOADERSUMD2012-024 | $22.31 | $20.25 | MD20260064 Mod 1 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOESUMD2012-024 | $22.82 | $18.40 | MD20260064 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Maryland Davis-Bacon changes
When this rate changes
- A determination applies to a project whose call for bids is published before it expires. Mid-year changes apply only to newly issued determinations: "Wage determinations that have already been issued will not be affected" (SFP 17-209(c)(4); DOL notice).
- DOL publishes rates on or about December 1 each year, effective for one year, and adds supplemental rates in between (DOL FAQ #11, #20). The portal prints no issue or effective date, so this page shows the date it was printed.
Every operating engineer rate in Howard County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base + fringe | Base | Fringe benefits | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOEBuilding ConstructionAD | $40.66 | $32.00 | $8.66 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BELT PRESSBuilding ConstructionCR | $47.77 | $32.92 | $14.85 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERBuilding ConstructionCR | $48.35 | $33.23 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERBuilding ConstructionCR | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CONCRETE PUMPBuilding ConstructionCR | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANEBuilding ConstructionAD | $61.10 | $42.00 | $19.10 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE - TOWERBuilding ConstructionCR | $61.10 | $42.00 | $19.10 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGBuilding ConstructionCR | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORBuilding ConstructionAD | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTBuilding ConstructionAD | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADALLBuilding ConstructionCR | $50.30 | $35.18 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERBuilding ConstructionCR | $48.30 | $34.15 | $14.15 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - HOISTBuilding ConstructionCR | $50.27 | $35.15 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERBuilding ConstructionAD | $34.98 | $28.00 | $6.98 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICBuilding ConstructionCR | $52.36 | $37.24 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINEBuilding ConstructionCR | $49.05 | $35.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERBuilding ConstructionCR | $49.05 | $35.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTBuilding ConstructionCR | $47.15 | $33.10 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHBuilding ConstructionCR | $44.72 | $29.60 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCREEDBuilding ConstructionCR | $45.33 | $35.37 | $9.96 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (BOBCAT)Building ConstructionAD | $48.35 | $33.23 | $15.12 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR-VACUUM TRUCKBuilding ConstructionAD | $41.66 | $32.30 | $9.36 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BOOM TRUCKHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $42.95 | $32.90 | $10.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $45.09 | $31.04 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CONCRETE PUMPHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $61.10 | $42.00 | $19.10 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $45.09 | $31.04 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADALLHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $49.05 | $35.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $49.05 | $35.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $48.05 | $34.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $49.05 | $35.00 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $30.41 | $28.26 | $2.15 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $22.46 | $21.00 | $1.46 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $37.66 | $29.81 | $7.85 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $45.09 | $31.04 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCREEDHighway Construction (includes heavy)CR | $45.71 | $29.23 | $16.48 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (BOBCAT)Highway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $45.09 | $31.04 | $14.05 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR-VACUUM TRUCKHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $54.35 | $38.60 | $15.75 | — |
How Howard 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 Maryland
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Howard Countybase $42.00$61.10
- Montgomery Countybase $48.71$63.81
- Baltimore Citybase $42.00$61.10
- Baltimore Countybase $42.00$61.10
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current DOL rates. "Locality" is the county where the work is done (SFP 17-201(g)).
| County | Classification | Base + fringe | Base | vs Howard County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $63.81 | $48.71 | +$2.71 |
| Howard County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | |
| Baltimore City | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | same |
| Baltimore County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | same |
| Carroll County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | same |
| Anne Arundel County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | same |
| Frederick County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $61.10 | $42.00 | same |
Maryland operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from DOL on this rate
- DOL DOL informational rates report, page 2
- Maryland DOL's prevailing wage portal
- These are journeyworker rates. Apprentices registered with the Maryland Apprenticeship and Training Council get the Council's percentage; helpers and trainees aren't allowed (SFP 17-205).
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to what your employer pays for bona fide benefits for you (or in cash), and compare it with the total. Certified payrolls go to the Commissioner within 14 days of each payroll, and underpayment is fined up to $250 per worker per day (SFP 17-220). Prevailing Wage Unit: 410-767-2342.
Source
Department of Labor (DOL), DOL informational rates report MD-INFO-2026-10-25-B-027, page 2: www.dllr.state.md.us/PrevWage/web/content/PWRequestRates.aspx
We pull every locality's Building and Highway informational report from DOL's portal, read every row, and check every number with a second read and against DOL's rate workbook. DOL prints no total; ours is base plus fringe. How we check · Download Howard County as CSV · Report an error