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Mississippi operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county

An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Mississippi runs from $17.53 an hour in Perry County to $35.75 in Benton County. The median county is $19.32.

Main operating engineer classification in each county (Operator: backhoe/excavator/trackhoe), Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, as of October 25, 2026. A contract keeps the wage determination in its bid documents. Modifications published before bid opening apply to it, though one published less than 10 days before can be left out if the agency finds there isn't time to tell bidders (29 CFR 1.6(c)). Checked October 25, 2026.

Chickasaw County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourLauderdale County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourStone County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourCalhoun County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourNeshoba County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourPike County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourGrenada County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourAmite County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourOktibbeha County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourJefferson Davis County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourLeake County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourScott County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourMontgomery County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourCarroll County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourWinston County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourTippah County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourQuitman County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourBolivar County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourWarren County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourLincoln County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourJefferson County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourUnion County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourTishomingo County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourLee County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourLafayette County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourCopiah County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourPerry County operating engineer: $17.53 per hourLamar County operating engineer: $17.53 per hourHumphreys County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourRankin County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourHinds County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourSimpson County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourSharkey County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourPontotoc County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourDeSoto County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourMarshall County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourCoahoma County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourSunflower County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourTunica County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourMadison County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourHolmes County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourMarion County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourYalobusha County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourIssaquena County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourCovington County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourWayne County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourWilkinson County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourClaiborne County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourClarke County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourForrest County operating engineer: $17.53 per hourYazoo County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourHarrison County operating engineer: $19.55 per hourPearl River County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourLeflore County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourAttala County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourItawamba County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourMonroe County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourTate County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourChoctaw County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourGeorge County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourNewton County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourClay County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourGreene County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourJackson County operating engineer: $19.51 per hourJasper County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourFranklin County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourPrentiss County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourNoxubee County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourLawrence County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourLowndes County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourWalthall County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourBenton County operating engineer: $35.75 per hourTallahatchie County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourKemper County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourWashington County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourPanola County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourHancock County operating engineer: $19.51 per hourJones County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourAlcorn County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourSmith County operating engineer: $19.32 per hourWebster County operating engineer: $18.00 per hourAdams County operating engineer: $19.32 per hour
$17$18$18$19$19$35Operating Engineer, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

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

4 groups of counties with identical rates and 68 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Benton County1 county$35.75
  2. Copiah County1 county$35.75
  3. DeSoto County1 county$35.75
  4. Hinds County1 county$35.75
  5. Madison County1 county$35.75
  6. Marshall County1 county$35.75
  7. Rankin County1 county$35.75
  8. Simpson County1 county$35.75
  9. Tate County1 county$35.75
  10. Tunica County1 county$35.75
  11. Harrison County1 county$19.55
  12. Hancock County1 county$19.51
  13. Jackson County1 county$19.51
  14. Covington County group6 counties$19.32
  15. Leake County group4 counties$19.32
  16. Adams County1 county$19.32
  17. Amite County1 county$19.32
  18. Clarke County1 county$19.32
  19. George County1 county$19.32
  20. Jefferson County1 county$19.32
  21. Jefferson Davis County1 county$19.32
  22. Jones County1 county$19.32
  23. Lauderdale County1 county$19.32
  24. Lawrence County1 county$19.32
  25. Lincoln County1 county$19.32
  26. Marion County1 county$19.32
  27. Neshoba County1 county$19.32
  28. Newton County1 county$19.32
  29. Pearl River County1 county$19.32
  30. Pike County1 county$19.32
  31. Scott County1 county$19.32
  32. Smith County1 county$19.32
  33. Stone County1 county$19.32
  34. Warren County1 county$19.32
  35. Wayne County1 county$19.32
  36. Wilkinson County1 county$19.32
  37. Yazoo County1 county$19.32
  38. Grenada County group2 counties$18.00
  39. Winston County group2 counties$18.00
  40. Alcorn County1 county$18.00

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Benton CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Copiah CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
DeSoto CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Hinds CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Madison CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Marshall CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Rankin CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Simpson CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Tate CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Tunica CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$35.75 $31.50 
Harrison CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.55 $17.93 
Hancock CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.51 $17.89 
Jackson CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.51 $17.89 
Covington County group, 6 localities: Claiborne, Covington, Franklin, Issaquena, Sharkey, WalthallOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Leake County group, 4 localities: Greene, Jasper, Kemper, LeakeOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Adams CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Amite CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Clarke CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
George CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Jefferson CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Jefferson Davis CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Jones CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Lauderdale CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Lawrence CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Lincoln CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Marion CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Neshoba CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Newton CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Pearl River CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Pike CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Scott CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Smith CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Stone CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Warren CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Wayne CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Wilkinson CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Yazoo CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$19.32 $18.00 
Grenada County group, 2 localities: Grenada, MontgomeryOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Winston County group, 2 localities: Webster, WinstonOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Alcorn CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Attala CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Bolivar CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Calhoun CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Carroll CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Chickasaw CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Choctaw CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Clay CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Coahoma CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Holmes CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Humphreys CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Itawamba CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Lafayette CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Lee CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Leflore CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Lowndes CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Monroe CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Noxubee CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Oktibbeha CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Panola CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Pontotoc CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Prentiss CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Quitman CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Sunflower CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Tallahatchie CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Tippah CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Tishomingo CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Union CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Washington CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Yalobusha CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$18.00 $18.00 
Forrest CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$17.53 $17.53 
Lamar CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$17.53 $17.53 
Perry CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE$17.53 $17.53 

4 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 68 counties with rates of their own.

Questions about Mississippi operating engineer pay

What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Harrison County?

$19.55 an hour: a $17.93 base wage plus $1.62 in fringe benefits, under wage determination MS20260050, modification 2. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Harrison County.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Harrison County the $19.55 total is a $17.93 base wage plus $1.62 in fringe benefits, about 8% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Mississippi?

Davis-Bacon rates are straight time. On contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires 1½ times the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (40 U.S.C. 3702). The fringe is owed for every hour at its straight-time amount.

Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?

Davis-Bacon determinations list journeyworker rates. Apprentices in a program registered with DOL or a recognized state agency can be paid the program's percentage of the rate, within its ratio; anyone else gets the full rate (29 CFR 5.5(a)(4)).

Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?

DOL often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Mississippi, the 82 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 72 distinct sets of rates, and 4 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 6 counties (the Covington County group).