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New Mexico · Operating Engineer · 33 counties
Operating Engineer prevailing wage, Bernalillo County group, New Mexico (33 counties)
DWS sets the same operating engineer rates, row for row, in 33 counties: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union and Valencia. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$34.83an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · Operators – Group I
$26.61 base wage + $8.22 fringe benefits · General building
On New Mexico public works in each of these 33 counties, an operating engineer working as operators – group i must be paid at least $34.83 an hour: a $26.61 base wage plus $8.22 in fringe. DWS prints no total, so $34.83 is our sum of the two. DWS's schedule raises it to $37.53 on January 1, 2027.
11.1.2.20 NMAC rates for decisions issued from July 1, 2026; this rate, effective July 1, 2026. Each project is governed by one wage rate decision "which shall remain effective for the duration of the project" (11.1.2.14 NMAC). Checked against dws.state.nm.us on October 25, 2026.
DWS lists 34 operating engineer rates for each of these counties, from $29.42 to $51.67 an hour. See all of them.
These rates come from the rule. The DWS wage rate decision issued for the project is what binds.
- Includes an apprenticeship contribution of $0.60 inside the fringe (11.1.2.19(C) NMAC).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $26.61 + $8.22
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DWS 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) | $26.61 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $8.22 |
| Base + fringe (our sum; DWS prints no total) | $34.83 |
When does this rate change?
- Each project is governed by one wage rate decision for its duration. A new decision issued before bids replaces the old one only if the agency gets it at least 10 days before bid opening (11.1.2.14(C)–(E) NMAC).
- This page shows the rates for decisions issued from July 1, 2026 (Register XXXVII-12), with the 2027 rates for decisions issued from January 1, 2027 (Register XXXVII-20).
Dated rates for this classification
DWS prints more than one dated line for Operators – Group I. The one in force on October 25, 2026 leads this page; scheduled lines take effect on their date.
| Effective | Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | $34.83 ($26.61 + $8.22) | Earlier |
| Jul 1, 2026 | $34.83 ($26.61 + $8.22) | In force |
| Jan 1, 2027 | $37.53 ($27.91 + $9.62) | Scheduled |
Every operating engineer rate in the Bernalillo County group
As DWS lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operators – Group IStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $23.69 | $6.95 | $30.64 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $24.72 | $6.95 | $31.67 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIIStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $27.03 | $6.95 | $33.98 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IVStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $28.65 | $6.95 | $35.60 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $28.79 | $6.95 | $35.74 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $29.05 | $6.95 | $36.00 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $29.28 | $6.95 | $36.23 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIIStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $30.27 | $6.95 | $37.22 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IXStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $40.08 | $6.95 | $47.03 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group XStreet, highway, utility and light engineering | $44.72 | $6.95 | $51.67 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IGeneral building | $26.61 | $8.22 | $34.83 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIGeneral building | $29.07 | $8.22 | $37.29 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIIGeneral building | $29.61 | $8.22 | $37.83 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IVGeneral building | $30.11 | $8.22 | $38.33 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VGeneral building | $30.33 | $8.22 | $38.55 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIGeneral building | $30.57 | $8.22 | $38.79 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIGeneral building | $30.68 | $8.22 | $38.90 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIIGeneral building | $34.14 | $8.22 | $42.36 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IXGeneral building | $36.89 | $8.22 | $45.11 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group XGeneral building | $40.77 | $8.22 | $48.99 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IResidential | $21.20 | $8.22 | $29.42 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VResidential | $23.18 | $8.22 | $31.40 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIResidential | $27.99 | $8.22 | $36.21 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIIResidential | $30.38 | $8.22 | $38.60 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IHeavy engineering | $27.02 | $6.95 | $33.97 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIHeavy engineering | $27.25 | $6.95 | $34.20 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IIIHeavy engineering | $28.31 | $6.95 | $35.26 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IVHeavy engineering | $28.91 | $6.95 | $35.86 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VHeavy engineering | $29.03 | $6.95 | $35.98 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIHeavy engineering | $29.31 | $6.95 | $36.26 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIHeavy engineering | $29.33 | $6.95 | $36.28 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group VIIIHeavy engineering | $32.39 | $6.95 | $39.34 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group IXHeavy engineering | $39.15 | $6.95 | $46.10 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operators – Group XHeavy engineering | $43.52 | $6.95 | $50.47 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rates in these counties
The counties share DWS's rates, but not always the same federal wage determination. 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.
| County | Federal classification | Base + fringe | WD | vs DWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Catron County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Chaves County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Cibola County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Colfax County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Curry County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| De Baca County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Dona Ana County | No federal row for this trade | |||
| Eddy County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Grant County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Guadalupe County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Harding County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Hidalgo County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Lea County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Lincoln County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Los Alamos County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Luna County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| McKinley County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Mora County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Otero County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Quay County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Rio Arriba County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Roosevelt County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| San Juan County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| San Miguel County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Sandoval County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Santa Fe County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Sierra County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Socorro County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Taos County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Torrance County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Union County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Valencia County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
How the Bernalillo County group 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 New Mexico
Wage and fringe, nearby
- Bernalillo County groupbase $26.61$34.83
- Valencia Countybase $26.61$34.83
- Sandoval Countybase $26.61$34.83
- Santa Fe Countybase $26.61$34.83
Which county is in which operating engineer group
Every New Mexico county with a operating engineer rate. Counties DWS treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernalillo County group, 33 localities: Bernalillo, Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Torrance, Union, Valencia | Operators – Group I | $26.61 | $34.83 |
1 group of counties with identical DWS rates, and 0 counties with rates of their own.
New Mexico operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from DWS on this rate
- the 11.1.2.20 NMAC rate table
- The table lists journeyworker and some helper rates. Registered apprentices are paid their program's rates (11.1.2.19 NMAC).
Every trade's rates, county by county: Bernalillo · Catron · Chaves · Cibola · Colfax · Curry · De Baca · Dona Ana · Eddy · Grant · Guadalupe · Harding · Hidalgo · Lea · Lincoln · Los Alamos · Luna · McKinley · Mora · Otero · Quay · Rio Arriba · Roosevelt · San Juan · San Miguel · Sandoval · Santa Fe · Sierra · Socorro · Taos · Torrance · Union · Valencia
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to what your employer pays into fringe plans for you, and compare it with the total. Certified payrolls carry the project's wage rate decision number and go to the agency monthly (11.1.2.9 NMAC). DWS Public Works: DWS prevailing wage.
Source
Department of Workforce Solutions (DWS), 11.1.2.20 NMAC rates for decisions issued from July 1, 2026. For the row this page leads with:
- Bernalillo: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Catron: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Chaves: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Cibola: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Colfax: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Curry: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- De Baca: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Dona Ana: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Eddy: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Grant: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Guadalupe: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Harding: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Hidalgo: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Lea: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Lincoln: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Los Alamos: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Luna: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- McKinley: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Mora: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Otero: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Quay: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Rio Arriba: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Roosevelt: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- San Juan: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- San Miguel: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Sandoval: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Santa Fe: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Sierra: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Socorro: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Taos: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Torrance: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Union: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
- Valencia: NMAC-11.1.2.20-2026-07-01, page 248
We read 11.1.2.20 NMAC's rate tables as published in the New Mexico Register and check every number with a second, separate read. The rule prints no total; ours is base plus fringe, and the apprenticeship contribution is inside the fringe. How we check · Download every New Mexico rate as CSV · Report an error