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Operating Engineer prevailing wage, Onondaga County group, New York (11 counties)
NYSDOL sets the same operating engineer rates, row for row, in 11 counties: Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence and Tompkins. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$84.24an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum) · Class A
$51.21 base wage + $33.03 fringe benefits (supplements)
On New York public works in each of these 11 counties, an operating engineer working as class a must be paid at least $84.24 an hour: a $51.21 base wage plus $33.03 in supplements. NYSDOL prints no total, so $84.24 is our sum of the two.
2026-27 schedules, with the October 1, 2026 updates; this rate, effective July 1, 2026. New York doesn't lock rates at bid: contractors pay the current prevailing rate, including the dated steps in the schedule, and monthly corrections retroactive to July 1 (NYSDOL). Checked against dol.ny.gov on October 25, 2026.
NYSDOL lists 15 operating engineer rates for each of these counties, from $77.90 to $101.85 an hour. See all of them.
NYSDOL's posted schedules are informational. An original schedule must be requested for each project (PRC number).
Base wage and fringe benefits: $51.21 + $33.03
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. NYSDOL prints the supplements 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) | $51.21 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $33.03 |
| Base + supplements (our sum; NYSDOL prints no total) | $84.24 |
When does this rate change?
- New York rates aren't locked at bid. Each rate stays until its next printed effective date or the new annual determination on July 1, and contractors must pay the current rate (Article 8 schedules).
- NYSDOL posts error corrections and updates on the first business day of each month, and contractors pay them "retroactive to July 1" (NYSDOL). This page uses the 2026-27 schedules with the October 1, 2026 updates.
Dated rates for this classification
NYSDOL prints more than one dated line for Operating Engineer - Building: Class A. The one in force on October 25, 2026 leads this page; scheduled lines take effect on their date.
| Effective | Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2026 | Wage $51.21 | In force |
| Jul 1, 2027 | Additional $3.75 an hour, to be split between wage and supplements later | Scheduled |
| Jul 1, 2028 | Additional $3.75 an hour, to be split between wage and supplements later | Scheduled |
| Jul 1, 2029 | Additional $4.18 an hour, to be split between wage and supplements later | Scheduled |
Every operating engineer rate in the Onondaga County group
As NYSDOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 1$101.85
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 2$100.85
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 3$99.85
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS A$97.85
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS B$96.63
- Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS A1**$96.56
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS C$93.84
- Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS A$92.81
- Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS B$91.93
- Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS D$90.83
- Operating Engineer - Building: Building Class A1**$88.74
- Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS C$88.65
- Operating Engineer - Building: Class A$84.24
- Operating Engineer - Building: Class B$82.12
- Operating Engineer - Building: Class C$77.90
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Engineer - Building: Building Class A1** | $55.71 | $33.03 | $88.74 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Building: Class A | $51.21 | $33.03 | $84.24 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Building: Class B | $49.09 | $33.03 | $82.12 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Building: Class C | $44.87 | $33.03 | $77.90 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS A1** | $62.11 | $34.45 | $96.56 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS A | $58.36 | $34.45 | $92.81 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS B | $57.48 | $34.45 | $91.93 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Heavy&Highway: CLASS C | $54.20 | $34.45 | $88.65 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS A | $60.95 | $36.90 | $97.85 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS B | $59.73 | $36.90 | $96.63 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS C | $56.94 | $36.90 | $93.84 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: CLASS D | $53.93 | $36.90 | $90.83 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 1 | $64.95 | $36.90 | $101.85 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 2 | $63.95 | $36.90 | $100.85 | Jul 1, 2026 |
| Operating Engineer - Tunnel: Crane 3 | $62.95 | $36.90 | $99.85 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rates in these counties
The counties share NYSDOL'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 NYSDOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayuga County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Cortland County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Jefferson County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Lewis County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Madison County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Oneida County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Onondaga County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Oswego County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Seneca County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| St. Lawrence County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Tompkins County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
How the Onondaga 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 York
Wage and supplements, nearby
- Onondaga County groupbase $51.21$84.24
- Cayuga Countybase $51.21$84.24
- Madison Countybase $51.21$84.24
- Wayne Countybase $46.24$82.75
Which county is in which operating engineer group
Every New York county with a operating engineer rate. Counties NYSDOL treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties and New York City | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | Engineer - Heavy Construction Operating Engineer I | $79.50 | $131.26 |
| Kings County group, 5 localities: Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond | Operating Engineer - Building, Maintenance, Steel Erection & Heavy Construction: Group 1 | $83.44 | $122.77 |
| Orange County group, 5 localities: Delaware, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster | Operating Engineer - Building / Heavy&Highway: Class A | $68.72 | $105.47 |
| Westchester County group, 2 localities: Putnam, Westchester | Operating Engineer - Building: GROUP I-A | $62.20 | $96.62 |
| Dutchess County* | Operating Engineer - Building: GROUP I-A | $62.20 | $96.62 |
| Albany County group, 17 localities: Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A (CLASS C) | $57.78 | $92.16 |
| Erie County group, 4 localities: Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, Orleans | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A | $52.53 | $89.92 |
| Cattaraugus County group, 2 localities: Cattaraugus, Wyoming | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A | $52.53 | $89.92 |
| Genesee County* | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A | $52.53 | $89.92 |
| Chenango County group, 3 localities: Broome, Chenango, Tioga | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A (CLASS C) | $53.01 | $87.31 |
| Onondaga County group, 11 localities: Cayuga, Cortland, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Tompkins | Operating Engineer - Building: Class A | $51.21 | $84.24 |
| Monroe County group, 9 localities: Allegany, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, Wayne, Yates | Operating Engineer - Building: CLASS A | $46.24 | $82.75 |
| Suffolk County group, 2 localities: Nassau, Suffolk | Operating Engineer - Building / Heavy&Highway: Well Driller | $45.63 | $50.19 |
10 groups of counties with identical NYSDOL rates, and 3 counties with rates of their own. * Part of the county has a rate of its own; its page lists each part's rate.
New York operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
Notes on this rate
NYSDOL's notes, in NYSDOL's words.
- ---If a prime contract is let for site work only, meaning no buildings are involved in their site contract, the Heavy/Highway rates would be applicable. When a prime contract is let for site work and building excavation is part of that contract, the Building rates would be applicable for the Operators classification.
- ---In the event that equipment listed below is operated by robotic control, the classification covering the operation will be the same as if manually operated.
- ---If a second employee is required by the employer for operation of any covered machine, they shall be an Engineer Class C.
- CLASS A1**: All Cranes (A1 Includes Boom Trucks over 5 tons, Cableway, Cherry Picker, Derrick, Dragline, Dredge, Overhead Crane, Pile Driver, Tower Crane***, Truck Crane, Whirlies).
- CLASS A: Air Plako, Asphalt & Blacktop Roller, Automated Concrete Spreader (CMI or equivalent), Automated Fine Grade Machine (CMI), Backhoe, Barrel Shredder, Belt Placer, Blacktop Spreader (such as Barber-Greene & Blaw Knox), Blacktop Plant (automated), Blast or Rotary Drill (Truck or Cat mounted), Boom Trucks (5 ton and under), Burning Plant Operator, Caisson Auger, Central Mix Plant (automated), Concrete Pump, Crusher (Rock), De-watering Press, Diesel Power Unit, Dirt Filter Press with Operation Equipment, Dredge, Dual Drum Paver, Elevating Grader (self-propelled or towed), Elevator Hoist - Two Cage, Excavator - all purpose hydraulically operated, Forklift (Loed/Lull and other rough terrain type), Front End Loader (4 c.y. and over), Gradall, Grader (Power), Head Tower (Saurman or equal), Hoist (2 or 3 Drum), Hydroblaster (Laser Pump), Light Plants - Compressors and Generators, Locomotive, Maintenance Engineer, Maintenance Welder, Mine Hoist, Mucking Machine or Mole, Quarry Master or Equivalent, Refrigeration Equipment (for soil stabilization), Scraper, Sea Mule, Shovel, Side Boom, Slip Form Paver, Straddle Buggy (Ross Carrier, Lumber Carrier), Tractor Drawn Belt Type Loader (Euclid Loader), Trenching Machine (digging capacity of over 4ft. depth), Truck or Trailer Mounted Log Chipper (self-feeder), Tug Operator (Manned, rented equipment excluded), Tunnel Shovel, Vibro or Sonic Hammer Controls (when not mounted in proximity to Rig Operator), Work Boat Operator including LCM's.
- CLASS B: "A" Frame Truck, Back Dumps, Blacktop Plant (non-automatic), Boring Machine, Bulldozer, Cage-Hoist, Central Mix Plant (non-automated), Compressor, Pump, Generator or Welding machine (when used in battery of not more than five (5)), Concrete Paver (single drum over 16'), Core boring machine, Drill Rigs - tractor mounted, Elevator - as material hoist, Farm Tractor (with or without accessories), Forklift (over 10 ton with or without attachments), Front End Loader (under 4 c.y.), Grout Pump, Gunite Machine, High Pressure Boiler (15 lbs. & over), Hoist (one drum), Hydraulic Breaking Hammer (Drop Hammer), Kolman Plant Loader (screening gravel), Maintenance Grease Man, Mixer for stabilized base - self-propelled (Seaman Mixer), Monorail Machine, Parapet Concrete or Pavement Grinder, Parts Man, Post Driver (truck or tractor mounted), Post Hole Digger (truck or tractor mounted), Power Sweeper (Wayne or similar), Pump-Crete or Squeeze-Crete, Road Widener (front end of Grader or self-propelled), Roller, Self-contained hydraulic bench drill, Shell Winder (motorized), Skid steer (Bobcat type loader), Snorkel (overhead arms), Snowblower control man, Tractor (with or without accessories), Trenching Machine (digging capacity of 4 ft. or less), Tugger Hoist, Vacuum Machine (self-propelled or mounted), Vibro Tamp, Well Drill / Well Point System (Submersible pumps when used in lieu of Well Point System), Winch (Motor driven), Winch Cat, Winch Truck.
- CLASS C: Compressor (up to 500 cfm), Concrete Paver or Mixer (under 16'), Concrete Pavement Spreaders & Finishers (not automated), Conveyor (over 12 ft), Electric Submersible Pump (4" and over), Fine Grade Machine (not automated), Fireman, Forklift ("with or without" attachments, 10 ton and under), Form Tamper, Generator (2,500 watts and over), Hydraulic Pump, Mechanical Heaters (More than two (2) Mechanical Heaters or any Mechanical Heater or Heaters whose combined output exceeds 640,000 BTU per hour (manufacturer's rating) plus one self-contained heating unit - i.e. Sundog or Air Heat type - New Holland Hay Dryer type excluded), Mulching Machine, Oiler, Power Driven Welding Machine (300 amp and over, other than all electric. One Welding Machine under 300 amp will not require an engineer unless in a battery), Power Heaterman (hay dryer), Pumps (water and trash), Revinius Widener (road widener), Single Light Plant, Steam Cleaner or Jenny.
- * To be allocated at a later date.
- Additional $ 2.50 per hour if work requires Personal Protective Equipment for hazardous waste site activities with a level C or over rating.
- (**) TONNAGE PREMIUMS:
- All cranes up to 64 ton capacity - A1 rate
- All cranes 65 ton to 110 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 1.50
- All cranes 111 ton to 199 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 2.00
- All cranes 200 ton to 399 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 3.00
- All cranes 400 ton to 599 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 4.00
- All cranes 600 ton to 799 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 5.00
- All cranes 800 ton to 999 ton capacity - A1 rate plus $ 6.00
- All cranes 1000 ton capacity and over - A1 rate plus $ 7.00
- (***) Tower Cranes - A1 rate plus $ 2.50 (no tonnage premiums apply)
- - Cranes in Luffer Configuration - A1 rate plus $ 5.00
- - Cranes with external ballast (Tray or Wagon) - A1 rate plus $ 5.00
- - NOTE: These premiums are in addition to the tonnage premiums if over 400 tons.
More from NYSDOL on this rate
- NYSDOL's Article 8 schedules
- These are journeyworker rates. Only apprentices individually registered in a NYSDOL-registered program may be paid apprentice rates (Labor Law §220(3-e)).
Every trade's rates, county by county: Cayuga · Cortland · Jefferson · Lewis · Madison · Oneida · Onondaga · Oswego · Seneca · St. Lawrence · Tompkins
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your hourly wage to the supplements your employer pays for you (benefits or cash), and compare it with the total. Contractors need a Contractor Registry certificate and file certified payroll electronically with NYSDOL. NYSDOL Bureau of Public Work: dol.ny.gov/prevailing-wage.
Source
Department of Labor (NYSDOL), 2026-27 schedules, with the October 1, 2026 updates. For the row this page leads with:
- Cayuga: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 25
- Cortland: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 24
- Jefferson: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 24
- Lewis: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 24
- Madison: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 27
- Oneida: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 24
- Onondaga: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 26
- Oswego: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 23
- Seneca: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 24
- St. Lawrence: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 23
- Tompkins: NYSDOL-6-158-545b.s, page 25
We read every NYSDOL job description and county schedule for 2026-27, with the monthly updates through October 1, 2026, and the NYC Comptroller's schedule, and check every number with a second read. Neither agency prints a total; ours is wage plus supplements. How we check · Download every New York rate as CSV · Report an error