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Montana operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county
An operating engineer's prevailing wage on Montana public works runs from $46.38 an hour in Sanders County to $49.13 in Beaverhead County. The median county is $48.21.
Main operating engineer classification in each county (Construction equipment operators group 1), DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026. "The wage rates applicable to a particular public works project are those in effect at the time the bid specifications are advertised" (ARM 24.17.127). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Montana?
4 groups of counties with identical rates and 0 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.
- Gallatin County group14 counties · CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1$49.13
- Lewis and Clark County group14 counties · CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1$49.13
- Yellowstone County group21 counties · CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1$47.29
- Missoula County group7 counties · CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1$46.38
Which counties pay which rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base + benefit | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin County group, 14 localities: Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Gallatin, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Meagher, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Sweet Grass, Wheatland | CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1 | $49.13 | $32.34 |
| Lewis and Clark County group, 14 localities: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, Madison, Pondera, Powell, Silver Bow, Teton, Toole | CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1 | $49.13 | $32.34 |
| Yellowstone County group, 21 localities: Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, McCone, Musselshell, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux, Yellowstone | CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1 | $47.29 | $30.50 |
| Missoula County group, 7 localities: Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, Sanders | CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT OPERATORS GROUP 1 | $46.38 | $31.33 |
4 groups of counties with identical DLI rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.
DLI publishes journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid the percentage of this rate set in their apprenticeship program, plus the full fringe benefit (18-2-416(2) MCA); unregistered apprentices get the journey-level rate.
Questions about Montana operating engineer pay
What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Yellowstone County?
$47.29 an hour: a $30.50 base wage plus $16.79 in benefits, under DLI 2026 rates, revised April 25, 2026. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Yellowstone County.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Yellowstone County the $47.29 total is a $30.50 base wage plus $16.79 in benefits, about 36% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Montana?
Hours over 40 in a week pay at least 1½ times the basic hourly rate. Overtime is calculated on the base rate, not the benefit, and benefits are paid for every hour at the straight-time amount (DLI FAQ). There is no daily overtime.
Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?
DLI publishes journey-level rates only. Registered apprentices are paid the percentage of this rate set in their apprenticeship program, plus the full fringe benefit (18-2-416(2) MCA); unregistered apprentices get the journey-level rate.
Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?
DLI often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Montana, the 56 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 4 distinct sets of rates, and 4 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 21 counties (the Yellowstone County group).