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New Hampshire operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county
An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in New Hampshire runs from $23.34 an hour in Grafton County to $28.83 in Hillsborough County. The median county is $24.69.
Operating Engineer rate in each New Hampshire county, A to Z
| County | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Belknap CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260015 Mod 1 |
Belknap CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.07 | $4.47 | $28.54 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260032 Mod 1 |
Belknap CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $25.00 | $2.21 | $27.21 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260004 Mod 1 |
Carroll CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260016 Mod 1 |
Carroll CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.90 | $4.55 | $28.45 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260033 Mod 1 |
Carroll CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $28.56 | $4.27 | $32.83 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260005 Mod 1 |
Cheshire CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260020 Mod 1 |
Cheshire CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.22 | $6.08 | $30.30 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260034 Mod 1 |
Cheshire CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $34.01 | $22.37 | $56.38 | Apr 1, 2024 | NH20260006 Mod 1 |
Coos CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260017 Mod 1 |
Coos CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.47 | $4.04 | $27.51 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260035 Mod 1 |
Coos CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $28.56 | $4.27 | $32.83 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260007 Mod 1 |
Grafton CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $2.34 | $23.34 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260018 Mod 1 |
Grafton CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.17 | $4.76 | $28.93 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260036 Mod 1 |
Grafton CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $29.00 | $0.56 | $29.56 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260008 Mod 1 |
Hillsborough CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.08 | $4.75 | $28.83 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260021 Mod 1 |
Hillsborough CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $11.47 | $0.00 | $11.47 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260002 Mod 1 |
Hillsborough CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.98 | $7.21 | $32.19 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260039 Mod 1 |
Hillsborough CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $25.00 | $1.84 | $26.84 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260024 Mod 1 |
Merrimack CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260019 Mod 1 |
Merrimack CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.68 | $4.52 | $29.20 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260037 Mod 1 |
Merrimack CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $26.45 | $3.89 | $30.34 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260009 Mod 1 |
Rockingham CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.02 | $4.25 | $28.27 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260022 Mod 1 |
Rockingham CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $11.47 | $0.00 | $11.47 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260002 Mod 1 |
Rockingham CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $26.98 | $6.50 | $33.48 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260040 Mod 1 |
Rockingham CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $28.51 | $10.16 | $38.67 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260025 Mod 1 |
Strafford CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.02 | $4.25 | $28.27 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260023 Mod 1 |
Strafford CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOE | $11.47 | $0.00 | $11.47 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260002 Mod 1 |
Strafford CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $26.43 | $5.27 | $31.70 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260041 Mod 1 |
Strafford CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $25.55 | $5.74 | $31.29 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260026 Mod 1 |
Sullivan CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $3.17 | $24.69 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260020 Mod 1 |
Sullivan CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.62 | $3.69 | $28.31 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260038 Mod 1 |
Sullivan CountyOPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $27.20 | $14.34 | $41.54 | May 18, 2026 | NH20260010 Mod 1 |
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.
How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in New Hampshire?
$23.34 to $28.83 an hour depending on the county; the median county pays $24.69. 10 counties, highest main rate first.
- Hillsborough County1 county$28.83
- Rockingham County1 county$28.27
- Strafford County1 county$28.27
- Belknap County1 county$24.69
- Cheshire County1 county$24.69
- Merrimack County1 county$24.69
- Sullivan County1 county$24.69
- Carroll County1 county$23.34
- Coos County1 county$23.34
- Grafton County1 county$23.34
Which counties share a rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.08 | $28.83 |
| Rockingham County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.02 | $28.27 |
| Strafford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.02 | $28.27 |
| Belknap County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $24.69 |
| Cheshire County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $24.69 |
| Merrimack County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $24.69 |
| Sullivan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.52 | $24.69 |
| Carroll County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $23.34 |
| Coos County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $23.34 |
| Grafton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.00 | $23.34 |
No two counties have identical DOL rates for this trade.
Questions about New Hampshire operating engineer pay
What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Hillsborough County?
$28.83 an hour: a $24.08 base wage plus $4.75 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NH20260021, modification 1. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Hillsborough County.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Hillsborough County the $28.83 total is a $24.08 base wage plus $4.75 in fringe benefits, about 16% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in New Hampshire?
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)).
Which county pays operating engineers the most in New Hampshire?
Hillsborough County, at $28.83 an hour for the main classification. The lowest is Grafton County at $23.34, and the median county is $24.69.