Home / Maryland / Washington County / Operating Engineer
Washington County, MD · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Washington County, Maryland
$61.10an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$42.00 base wage + $19.10 fringe benefits · Building Construction · AD
On Maryland public works in Washington 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 53 operating engineer rates for Washington County, from $34.00 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 |
When does this rate change?
- 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 Washington County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ASPHALT DISTRIBUTORBuilding ConstructionCR | $35.47 | $16.70 | $52.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOEBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CONCRETE PUMPBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANEBuilding ConstructionAD | $42.00 | $19.10 | $61.10 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.02 | $16.70 | $52.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINEBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - OILERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SHOULDER MACHINEBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (BOBCAT)Building ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SPREADERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRENCHERBuilding ConstructionCR | $36.62 | $17.10 | $53.72 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR-VACUUM TRUCKBuilding ConstructionCR | $38.60 | $15.75 | $54.35 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ASPHALT DISTRIBUTORHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $35.47 | $16.70 | $52.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BELT PRESSHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $35.47 | $16.70 | $52.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BOOM TRUCKHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CONCRETE CURB AND GUTTER PANHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CONCRETE PUMPHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $37.22 | $17.10 | $54.32 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE - TOWERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $37.22 | $17.10 | $54.32 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADALLHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - HOISTHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $27.00 | $7.00 | $34.00 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - OILERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROCK / STUMP TUB GRINDERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCRAPERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCREEDHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SHOULDER MACHINEHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (BOBCAT)Highway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKIDDERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SPREADERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRENCHERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRIMMERHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR- TRANSFER MACHINE OPERATORHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $36.07 | $17.10 | $53.17 | — |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR-VACUUM TRUCKHighway Construction (includes heavy)AD | $38.60 | $15.75 | $54.35 | — |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Washington 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 wage | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOESAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANESAMD2025-001 | $42.00 | $61.10 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - OILERSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (Bobcat)SAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRENCHERSAMD2025-001 | $36.62 | $53.72 | MD20260126 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ASPHALT DISTRIBUTORSAMD2025-001 | $35.47 | $52.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BACKHOESAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BELT PRESSSAMD2025-001 | $35.47 | $52.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BROOM / SWEEPERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - BULLDOZERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANESAMD2025-001 | $37.22 | $54.32 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE - TOWERSAMD2025-001 | $37.22 | $54.32 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - DRILL - RIGSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - EXCAVATORSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - FORKLIFTSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADALLSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - GRADERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - HOISTSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - LOADERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MECHANICSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - MILLING MACHINESAMD2025-001 | $27.00 | $34.00 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - OILERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - PAVERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROCK / STUMP TUB GRINDERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - ASPHALTSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - ROLLER - EARTHSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCRAPERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SCREEDSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SHOULDER MACHINESAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKID STEER (Bobcat)SAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SKIDDERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - SPREADERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRENCHERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - TRIMMERSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR- TRANSFER MACHINE OPERATORSAMD2025-001 | $36.07 | $53.17 | MD20260078 Mod 2 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: LOADERSUMD2012-029 | $20.25 | $22.31 | MD20260069 Mod 1 |
The first 40 of 41 federal rows; every row is in the determinations linked above.
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
How Washington 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
- Washington Countybase $42.00$61.10
- Frederick Countybase $42.00$61.10
- Carroll Countybase $42.00$61.10
- Montgomery Countybase $48.71$63.81
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 wage | Total rate | vs Washington County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $48.71 | $63.81 | +$2.71 |
| Washington County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $42.00 | $61.10 | |
| Frederick County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $42.00 | $61.10 | same |
| Carroll County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $42.00 | $61.10 | same |
| Howard County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $42.00 | $61.10 | same |
| Baltimore County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $42.00 | $61.10 | same |
| Allegany County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - CRANE | $37.22 | $54.32 | −$6.78 |
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-043, 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 Washington County as CSV · Report an error