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Stearns County, MN · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Stearns County, Minnesota
$80.43an hour, base wage + fringe benefits
$51.03 base wage + $29.40 fringe benefits · Adjacent-county rate
On Minnesota public works in Stearns County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $80.43 an hour: a $51.03 base wage plus $29.40 in fringe.
DLI certifications of Nov 3 and Dec 22, 2025 (revised to Feb 9, 2026); this rate, effective December 22, 2025. The rates "must be ascertained before the state asks for bids" and written into the contract, with their dated steps (Minn. Stat. 177.43). Checked against dli.mn.gov on October 25, 2026.
DLI lists 16 operating engineer rates for Stearns County, from $22.10 to $84.79 an hour. See all of them.
- Group 1: every code in the group gets this rate (501 HELICOPTER PILOT (COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION ONLY); 502 TOWER CRANE 250 FEET AND OVER (COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION ONLY); 503 TRUCK CRAWLER CRANE WITH 200 FEET OF BOOM AND OVER, INCLUDING JIB (COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION ONLY)).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $51.03 + $29.40
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DLI prints the fringe 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) | $51.03 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $29.40 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $80.43 |
When does this rate change?
- Minnesota rates are set before bids and written into the contract, including their dated steps (Minn. Stat. 177.43, subd. 3–4). The schedule in your bid documents controls.
- DLI certifies rates at least once a year from a survey of the previous 12 months, and may certify changes at any time (Minn. R. 5200.1020, 5200.1120). Highway/heavy was certified November 3, 2025 and commercial December 22, 2025, with revisions through February 9, 2026.
Every operating engineer rate in Stearns County
As DLI lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 2$84.79
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 3$83.08
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 4Adjacent-county rate$82.68
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1Adjacent-county rate$80.43
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 5$79.52
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 7$76.34
- ARTICULATED HAULER (201)$75.91
- BOOM TRUCK (202)$75.91
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 6$74.22
- Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 3$66.70
- Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 2$65.20
- Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 5$61.81
- Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 6$57.46
- LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDES HYDRO SEEDER OR MULCHER, SOD ROLLER, FARM TRACTOR WITH ATTACHMENT SPECIFICALLY SEEDING, SODDING, OR PLANT, AND TWO-FRAMED FORKLIFT (EXCLUDING FRONT, POSIT-TRACK, AND SKID STEER LOADERS), NO EARTHWORK OR GRADING FOR ELEVATIONS (203)$54.44
- Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 4$39.42
- Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 8$22.10
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTICULATED HAULER (201) | $46.51 | $29.40 | $75.91 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| BOOM TRUCK (202) | $46.51 | $29.40 | $75.91 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| LANDSCAPING EQUIPMENT, INCLUDES HYDRO SEEDER OR MULCHER, SOD ROLLER, FARM TRACTOR WITH ATTACHMENT SPECIFICALLY SEEDING, SODDING, OR PLANT, AND TWO-FRAMED FORKLIFT (EXCLUDING FRONT, POSIT-TRACK, AND SKID STEER LOADERS), NO EARTHWORK OR GRADING FOR ELEVATIONS (203) | $31.66 | $22.78 | $54.44 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| OFF-ROAD TRUCK (204)Adjacent-county rate FOR RATE CALL 651-284-5091 OR EMAIL DLI.PREVWAGE@STATE.MN.US | — | — | — | — |
| Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 2 | $36.03 | $29.17 | $65.20 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 3 | $35.93 | $30.77 | $66.70 | May 4, 2026 |
| Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 4 | $36.90 | $2.52 | $39.42 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 5 | $32.64 | $29.17 | $61.81 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Highway/Heavy Power Equipment Operator - Group 6 | $31.06 | $26.40 | $57.46 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1Adjacent-county rate | $51.03 | $29.40 | $80.43 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 2 | $53.79 | $31.00 | $84.79 | May 4, 2026 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 3 | $52.08 | $31.00 | $83.08 | May 4, 2026 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 4Adjacent-county rate | $51.68 | $31.00 | $82.68 | May 4, 2026 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 5 | $48.52 | $31.00 | $79.52 | May 4, 2026 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 6 | $44.82 | $29.40 | $74.22 | Dec 22, 2025 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 7 | $45.34 | $31.00 | $76.34 | May 4, 2026 |
| Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 8 | $16.10 | $6.00 | $22.10 | Dec 22, 2025 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rate in Stearns County
Federally funded or assisted construction here uses the U.S. Department of Labor's wage determinations. When a contract requires both the state rate and the Davis-Bacon rate, paying the higher of the two meets both. The contract documents say which apply.
We don't put a federal figure next to DLI's here, because the federal determinations split this trade into groups that don't line up with DLI'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: COMMERCIAL GROUP 4 : CRAWLER BACKHOE INCLUDING ATTACHMENTS; FIREPERSON, CHIEF BOILER LICENSE; HOIST ENGINEER (THREE DRUMS OR MORE); …SAMN2025-001 | $51.68 | $82.68 | MN20260099 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: COMMERCIAL GROUP 8 : ELEVATOR OPERATOR; GREASER; MECHANICAL SPACE HEATER (TEMPORARY HEAT NO BOILER LICENSE REQUIRED)SAMN2025-001 | $16.10 | $22.10 | MN20260099 Mod 2 |
| Building | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: HIGHWAY/HEAVY GROUP 4 : AIR TRACK ROCK DRILL; AUTOMATIC ROAD MACHINE (CMI OR SIMILAR); BACKFILLER OPERATOR; BITUMINOUS ROLLERS, …SAMN2025-001 | $36.90 | $39.42 | MN20260099 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: HIGHWAY/HEAVY GROUP 3 : ASPHALT BITUMINOUS STABILIZER PLANT; CABLEWAY; CONCRETE MIXER, STATIONARY PLANT; DERRICK (GUY OR …SAMN2025-001 | $48.05 | $79.05 | MN20260235 Mod 2 |
| Highway, Heavy | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: HIGHWAY/HEAVY GROUP 4 : AIR TRACK ROCK DRILL; AUTOMATIC ROAD MACHINE (CMI OR SIMILAR); BACKFILLER OPERATOR; CONCRETE BATCH PLANT …SAMN2025-001 | $47.68 | $78.68 | MN20260235 Mod 2 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP 8 OILERENGI0049-060 | $28.29 | $44.24 | MN20260021 Mod 1 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP 6 LOADER UP TO 1 CU YD, TRACTOR D2 OR SIMILAR SIZEENGI0049-060 | $31.42 | $47.37 | MN20260021 Mod 1 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP 5 BULLDOZER, CURB MACHINE, FORKLIFT, LOADER OVER 1 CU YD, MECHANIC, ROLLER, SCRAPER, TRACTOR OVER D2ENGI0049-060 | $32.93 | $48.88 | MN20260021 Mod 1 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP 4 BACKHOEENGI0049-060 | $33.10 | $49.05 | MN20260021 Mod 1 |
| Residential | OPERATOR: POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP 2 GRADER/BLADEENGI0049-060 | $34.85 | $50.80 | MN20260021 Mod 1 |
Davis-Bacon rates from SAM.gov, read October 25, 2026. Our federal totals are base plus fringe; DOL prints no total. Minnesota Davis-Bacon changes
How Stearns 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 Minnesota
Wage and fringe, nearby
- Stearns Countybase $51.03$80.43
- Meeker Countybase $51.03$80.43
- Benton Countybase $49.25$74.45
- Kandiyohi Countybase $49.25$74.45
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current DLI rates. Commercial rates are county by county, highway and heavy by area (Minn. R. 5200.1030, 5200.1035).
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Stearns County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stearns County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $51.03 | $80.43 | |
| Meeker County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $51.03 | $80.43 | same |
| Morrison County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $51.03 | $80.43 | same |
| Todd County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $51.03 | $80.43 | same |
| Benton County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $49.25 | $74.45 | −$5.98 |
| Kandiyohi County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $49.25 | $74.45 | −$5.98 |
| Pope County | Commercial Power Equipment Operator - Group 1 | $47.19 | $72.39 | −$8.04 |
Minnesota operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
Notes on this rate
DLI's notes, in DLI's words.
- * * Indicates that adjacent county rates were used for the labor class listed.
More from DLI on this rate
- DLI DLI schedule, page 662
- DLI's prevailing wage rates
- DLI lists journeyworker rates. Registered apprentices get their program's rate; "trainee" or "helper" titles are not substitutes (Minn. R. 5200.1070).
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your basic rate to what your employer pays into fringe plans for you, and compare it with the total. Contractors post the rates on site and give payroll copies to the contracting agency within 14 days of each pay period (Minn. Stat. 177.43). DLI Prevailing Wage: 651-284-5091.
Source
Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), DLI schedule DLI-C-73-2025-12-22, issued December 22, 2025, effective December 22, 2025, page 662: workplace.doli.state.mn.us/prevwage/report/consolidated/commercial.pdf
We read DLI's consolidated commercial and highway/heavy PDFs line by line and check every number with a second, separate reader. Basic plus fringe equals DLI's printed total on every priced row. How we check · Download Stearns County as CSV · Report an error