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Michigan · Operating Engineer

Michigan operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county

An operating engineer's prevailing wage on Michigan public works runs from $69.92 an hour in Schoolcraft County to $73.64 in Lenawee County. The median county is $71.22.

Operating Engineer rate in each Michigan county, A to Z

83 counties
CountyBase wageFringe benefitsTotal rateEffectiveSource
Alcona County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-alcona
Alger County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-alger
Allegan County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-allegan
Alpena County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-alpena
Antrim County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-antrim
Arenac County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-arenac
Baraga County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-baraga
Barry County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-barry
Bay County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-bay
Benzie County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-benzie
Berrien County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-berrien
Branch County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-branch
Calhoun County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-calhoun
Cass County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-cass
Charlevoix County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-charlevoix
Cheboygan County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-cheboygan
Chippewa County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-chippewa
Clare County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-clare
Clinton County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-clinton
Crawford County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-crawford
Delta County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-delta
Dickinson County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-dickinson
Eaton County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-eaton
Emmet County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-emmet
Genesee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-genesee
Gladwin County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-gladwin
Gogebic County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-gogebic
Grand Traverse County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-grand-traverse
Gratiot County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-gratiot
Hillsdale County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-hillsdale
Houghton County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-houghton
Huron County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-huron
Ingham County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-ingham
Ionia County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-ionia
Iosco County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-iosco
Iron County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-iron
Isabella County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-isabella
Jackson County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-jackson
Kalamazoo County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-kalamazoo
Kalkaska County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-kalkaska
Kent County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-kent
Keweenaw County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-keweenaw
Lake County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-lake
Lapeer County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-lapeer
Leelanau County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-leelanau
Lenawee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-lenawee
Livingston County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-livingston
Luce County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-luce
Mackinac County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-mackinac
Macomb County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-macomb
Manistee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-manistee
Marquette County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-marquette
Mason County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-mason
Mecosta County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-mecosta
Menominee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-menominee
Midland County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-midland
Missaukee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-missaukee
Monroe County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-monroe
Montcalm County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-montcalm
Montmorency County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-montmorency
Muskegon County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-muskegon
Newaygo County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-newaygo
Oakland County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-oakland
Oceana County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-oceana
Ogemaw County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-ogemaw
Ontonagon County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-ontonagon
Osceola County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-osceola
Oscoda County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-oscoda
Otsego County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-otsego
Ottawa County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-ottawa
Presque Isle County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-presque-isle
Roscommon County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-roscommon
Saginaw County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-saginaw
Sanilac County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-sanilac
Schoolcraft County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Houghton County group
incl.incl.$69.92 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-schoolcraft
Shiawassee County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-shiawassee
St. Clair County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-st-clair
St. Joseph County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-st-joseph
Tuscola County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-tuscola
Van Buren County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-van-buren
Washtenaw County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-washtenaw
Wayne County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Wayne County group
incl.incl.$73.64 Nov 1, 2025LEO-November-2025-wayne
Wexford County4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial · Kent County group
incl.incl.$71.22 Oct 31, 2025LEO-November-2025-wexford

Main operating engineer classification in each county (4.1 power equip. operator - commercial), LEO county rates, November 2025 edition. The contracting agent gets LEO's rates before advertising and puts them in the specifications; if the contract isn't awarded or started within 90 days of LEO's determination, LEO must redetermine them (MCL 408.1103). Checked October 25, 2026.

Lapeer County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourNewaygo County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourIsabella County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourSanilac County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourManistee County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourOgemaw County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourClare County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourCrawford County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMontmorency County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourGladwin County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourOscoda County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourClinton County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourBranch County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourGratiot County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourIonia County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourKalamazoo County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourLake County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMason County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMecosta County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMuskegon County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourOtsego County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourRoscommon County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourWashtenaw County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourBarry County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMenominee County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourMidland County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourLuce County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourAntrim County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourJackson County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourSt. Joseph County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourOsceola County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourSaginaw County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourHillsdale County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourArenac County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourKalkaska County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourBay County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourAlpena County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourGogebic County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourDickinson County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourMissaukee County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMontcalm County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourBaraga County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourOceana County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourAlger County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourHoughton County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourIngham County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourIron County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourOttawa County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourGrand Traverse County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourLivingston County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourSt. Clair County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourWayne County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourCass County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourKent County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourCharlevoix County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourLenawee County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourChippewa County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourMackinac County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourSchoolcraft County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourBenzie County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourEmmet County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMonroe County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourShiawassee County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourTuscola County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourHuron County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourAlcona County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourMarquette County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourIosco County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourOntonagon County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourMacomb County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourGenesee County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourVan Buren County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourPresque Isle County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourCheboygan County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourDelta County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourBerrien County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourAllegan County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourLeelanau County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourKeweenaw County operating engineer: $69.92 per hourOakland County operating engineer: $73.64 per hourEaton County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourCalhoun County operating engineer: $71.22 per hourWexford County operating engineer: $71.22 per hour
$69$71$71$71$71$73Operating Engineer, main rate, total (fringes included) per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

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

$69.92 to $73.64 an hour depending on the county; the median county pays $71.22. 3 groups of counties with identical rates and 0 with rates of their own, highest main rate first.

  1. Wayne County group7 counties · 4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial$73.64
  2. Kent County group61 counties · 4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial$71.22
  3. Houghton County group15 counties · 4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial$69.92
Which counties share a rate
CountiesMain classificationBase wageTotal rate
Wayne County group, 7 localities: Lenawee, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, Wayne4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial—$73.64 
Kent County group, 61 localities: Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Arenac, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Eaton, Emmet, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Huron, Ingham, Ionia, Iosco, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Livingston, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Midland, Missaukee, Montcalm, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Ogemaw, Osceola, Oscoda, Otsego, Ottawa, Presque Isle, Roscommon, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Joseph, Tuscola, Van Buren, Wexford4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial—$71.22 
Houghton County group, 15 localities: Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, Schoolcraft4.1 Power Equip. Operator - Commercial—$69.92 

3 groups of counties with identical LEO rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.

LEO prints apprentice levels (straight time, 1.5x, 2x) on each classification page; see apprentice_rates.

Questions about Michigan operating engineer pay

What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Wayne County?

$73.64 an hour, fringe benefits included (one rate, no separate base wage), under LEO county rates, November 2025 edition. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Wayne County.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Michigan?

Standard overtime unless the classification says otherwise: 1.5× over 8 hours a day (unless four 10-hour days are allowed), over 40 a week and on Saturdays; 2× on Sundays and holidays. The figures are LEO's own (LEO).

Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?

LEO prints apprentice levels (straight time, 1.5x, 2x) on each classification page; see apprentice_rates.

Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?

LEO often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Michigan, the 83 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 3 distinct sets of rates, and 3 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 61 counties (the Kent County group).

Which county pays operating engineers the most in Michigan?

Lenawee County, at $73.64 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Schoolcraft County at $69.92, and the median county is $71.22.