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Avery County, NC · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Avery County, North Carolina
$20.01an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$18.60 base wage + $1.41 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUNC2011-032
$13.88an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$13.88 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINE · SUNC2014-001
$16.36an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$14.86 base wage + $1.50 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUNC2011-049
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Avery County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $20.01 an hour: a $18.60 base wage plus $1.41 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260051 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $20.01 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination NC20260051, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUNC2011-032 (August 26, 2011). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Avery County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $13.88 an hour: a $13.88 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260086 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $13.88 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination NC20260086, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUNC2014-001 (November 13, 2014). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Avery County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $16.36 an hour: a $14.86 base wage plus $1.50 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260068 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $16.36 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination NC20260068, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUNC2011-049 (August 26, 2011). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). North Carolina has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
DOL lists 31 operating engineer rates for Avery County, from $11.00 to $24.66 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $18.60 + $1.41
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits 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) | $18.60 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.41 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $20.01 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $13.88 + $0.00
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits 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) | $13.88 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $13.88 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $14.86 + $1.50
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. DOL prints the fringe benefits 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) | $14.86 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.50 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $16.36 |
When does this rate change?
- 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)).
- DOL changes a WD by publishing a numbered modification on SAM.gov. This page reads the modification named in the Source line; the North Carolina change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Avery County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUNC2011-032 | $15.25 | $1.52 | $16.77 | NC20260051 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingSUNC2011-032 | $19.25 | $2.37 | $21.62 | NC20260051 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUNC2011-032 | $18.60 | $1.41 | $20.01 | NC20260051 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.88 | $0.00 | $13.88 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUNC2014-001 | $18.51 | $0.00 | $18.51 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SLIP FORM MACHINE)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $20.79 | $0.00 | $20.79 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $11.53 | $0.00 | $11.53 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER FINISH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.87 | $0.00 | $13.87 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER OTHER)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $11.75 | $0.00 | $11.75 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT FINISH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $14.98 | $0.04 | $15.02 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT BREAKDOWN)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $14.05 | $0.06 | $14.11 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER ASPHALT)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $15.68 | $0.05 | $15.73 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER/GREASER)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $14.98 | $0.00 | $14.98 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OFF-ROAD HAULER/WATER TANKER)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.87 | $0.00 | $13.87 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLE (SHUTTLE BUGGY))HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $17.39 | $0.00 | $17.39 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER GREATER THAN 2 CUBIC YARDS)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $16.01 | $0.00 | $16.01 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER 2 CUBIC YARDS OR LESS)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.38 | $0.00 | $13.38 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.07 | $0.00 | $13.07 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $19.24 | $0.00 | $19.24 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.10 | $0.00 | $13.10 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $16.11 | $0.00 | $16.11 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR STRUCTURE)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $20.92 | $0.00 | $20.92 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR ROCK)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $15.25 | $0.00 | $15.25 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE ROUGH/ALL-TERRAIN)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $21.25 | $0.00 | $21.25 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE OTHER)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $19.59 | $0.00 | $19.59 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE BOOM TRUCKS)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $14.44 | $0.53 | $14.97 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CONCRETE GRINDER/GROOVER)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $24.66 | $0.00 | $24.66 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $13.89 | $0.00 | $13.89 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $16.20 | $0.00 | $16.20 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ASPHALT BROOM TRACTOR)HighwaySUNC2014-001 | $11.00 | $0.00 | $11.00 | NC20260086 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUNC2011-049 | $14.86 | $1.50 | $16.36 | NC20260068 Mod 1 |
How Avery County 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 North Carolina
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Avery Countybase $18.60$20.01
- Mitchell Countybase $18.60$20.01
- Watauga Countybase $18.60$20.01
- Caldwell Countybase $16.50$16.58
Operating Engineer rates in nearby counties
Current DOL rates. Davis-Bacon rates are set for groups of counties, so neighbours often share them; the county where the work is done decides.
| County | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Avery County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.60 | $20.01 | |
| Mitchell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.60 | $20.01 | same |
| Watauga County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.60 | $20.01 | same |
| Yancey County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.60 | $20.01 | same |
| McDowell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.60 | $20.01 | same |
| Caldwell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.50 | $16.58 | −$3.43 |
| Burke County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.50 | $16.58 | −$3.43 |
North Carolina operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from DOL on this rate
- DOL wage determination
- SAM.gov wage determinations
- 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)).
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base pay to the fringe your employer pays for you, in cash or into plans, and compare the sum with the total. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division takes complaints: 1-866-487-9243, or dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints.
Source
U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (DOL), wage determination NC20260051 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/NC20260051/1
We read every active North Carolina Davis-Bacon wage determination from SAM.gov's own data and check every number with a second, independent read of the same file. DOL prints no total; ours is base plus fringe. How we check · Download Avery County as CSV · Report an error