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Union County, NC · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Union County, North Carolina
$16.58an hour, base + fringe
$16.50 wage + $0.08 fringe benefits · Building · SUNC2018-017
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Union County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $16.58 an hour: a $16.50 base wage plus $0.08 in fringe benefits, under wage determination NC20260017 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $16.58 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination NC20260017, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUNC2018-017 (August 8, 2023). 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 43 operating engineer rates for Union County, from $10.00 to $25.95 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $16.50 + $0.08
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) | $16.50 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $0.08 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $16.58 |
When this rate changes
- 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 Union County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base + fringe | Base | Fringe benefits | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUNC2018-017 | $16.77 | $15.31 | $1.46 | NC20260017 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUNC2018-017 | $25.95 | $22.68 | $3.27 | NC20260017 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUNC2018-017 | $16.75 | $16.75 | $0.00 | NC20260017 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUNC2018-017 | $20.17 | $17.54 | $2.63 | NC20260017 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUNC2018-017 | $16.58 | $16.50 | $0.08 | NC20260017 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUNC2014-003 | $15.22 | $15.22 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUNC2014-003 | $17.51 | $17.51 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SLIP FORM MACHINE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $19.60 | $19.60 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $11.50 | $11.50 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (SCRAPER FINISH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $12.65 | $12.65 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER OTHER)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $12.08 | $12.08 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT FINISH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $13.76 | $13.76 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ROLLER ASPHALT BREAKDOWN)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $12.79 | $12.79 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER CONCRETE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $18.20 | $18.20 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (PAVER ASPHPALT)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $15.97 | $15.97 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OILER/GREASER)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $14.16 | $14.16 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (OFF-ROAD HAULER/WATER TANKER)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $11.83 | $11.83 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLE (SHUTTLE BUGGY))HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $15.44 | $15.44 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER GREATER THAN 2 CUBIC YARDS)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $16.19 | $16.19 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (LOADER 2 CUBIC YARDS OR LESS)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $13.31 | $13.31 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $15.47 | $15.47 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER/BLADE FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $19.84 | $19.84 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $13.63 | $13.63 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (EXCAVATOR FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $16.95 | $16.95 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR STRUCTURE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $20.89 | $20.89 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (DRILL OPERATOR ROCK)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $14.28 | $14.28 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE ROUGH/ALL-TERRAIN)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $19.10 | $19.10 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE OTHER)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $19.83 | $19.83 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANE BOOM TRUCKS)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $18.19 | $18.19 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CONCRETE GRINDER/GROOVER)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $17.92 | $17.92 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER ROUGH)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $14.36 | $14.36 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER FINE)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $16.13 | $16.13 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (ASPHALT BROOM TRACTOR)HighwaySUNC2014-003 | $10.00 | $10.00 | $0.00 | NC20260088 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUNC2011-055 | $17.67 | $15.00 | $2.67 | NC20260074 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUNC2011-055 | $14.63 | $14.63 | $0.00 | NC20260074 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUNC2011-055 | $18.15 | $15.96 | $2.19 | NC20260074 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $13.55 | $13.55 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)ResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $17.45 | $17.45 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $15.13 | $15.13 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $15.83 | $15.83 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $16.83 | $16.83 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $20.06 | $18.50 | $1.56 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEResidentialSUNC2016-018 | $18.50 | $18.50 | $0.00 | NC20260109 Mod 1 |
How Union 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
- Union Countybase $16.50$16.58
- Anson Countybase $16.00$18.48
- Mecklenburg Countybase $16.50$16.58
- Stanly Countybase $17.98$18.89
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 + fringe | Base | vs Union County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanly County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.89 | $17.98 | +$2.31 |
| Montgomery County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.89 | $17.98 | +$2.31 |
| Anson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $18.48 | $16.00 | +$1.90 |
| Union County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.58 | $16.50 | |
| Mecklenburg County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.58 | $16.50 | same |
| Cabarrus County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.58 | $16.50 | same |
| Gaston County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.58 | $16.50 | same |
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 NC20260017 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/NC20260017/1
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 Union County as CSV · Report an error