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Pennsylvania · Operating Engineer · 3 counties
Operating Engineer prevailing wage, Lancaster County group, Pennsylvania (3 counties)
L&I sets the same operating engineer rates, row for row, in 3 counties: Lancaster, Tioga and York. Every figure on this page applies in each of them.
$77.81an hour, base wage + fringe benefits · Operators
$46.05 base wage + $31.76 fringe benefits · Building
On Pennsylvania public works in each of these 3 counties, an operating engineer working as operators must be paid at least $77.81 an hour: a $46.05 base wage plus $31.76 in fringe benefits.
PPWS county schedules from each county's newest determination (Oct 25, 2026); this rate, effective May 1, 2026. Rates are set per project: the public body gets a determination before bidding, and once the contract is signed its rates "shall not be altered" while it is in force (Act § 4). A determination must be re-requested if the contract isn't awarded within 120 days (34 Pa. Code 9.104(a)). Checked against dliweb.pa.gov on October 25, 2026.
L&I lists 30 operating engineer rates for each of these counties, from $68.62 to $92.17 an hour. See all of them.
Pennsylvania publishes no county rate schedule. These are the rates printed in each county's newest project determination; the binding rates for a job are the ones in that job's own determination.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $46.05 + $31.76
The base wage is the taxable hourly wage. L&I 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) | $46.05 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $31.76 |
| Total hourly rate, as printed | $77.81 |
When does this rate change?
- A signed contract keeps the rates in its own determination, including the dated steps printed there. A later L&I rate change doesn't reach it (Act § 4).
- County pages here follow each county's newest determination, so they move whenever L&I issues the next one there. The determination is named in the Source line.
Dated rates for this classification
L&I prints more than one dated line for Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes). The one in force on October 25, 2026 leads this page; scheduled lines take effect on their date.
| Effective | Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | $75.81 ($44.89 + $30.92) | Earlier |
| May 1, 2026 | $77.81 ($46.05 + $31.76) | In force |
Every operating engineer rate in the Lancaster County group
As L&I lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes)Building | $46.05 | $31.76 | $77.81 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 01A - See Notes)Building | $48.30 | $32.42 | $80.72 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 02 - See Notes)Building | $45.77 | $31.67 | $77.44 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 02A - See Notes)Building | $48.02 | $32.34 | $80.36 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 03 - See Notes)Building | $43.04 | $30.87 | $73.91 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 04 - See Notes)Building | $41.90 | $30.54 | $72.44 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 05 - See Notes)Building | $41.45 | $30.41 | $71.86 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 06 - See Notes)Building | $40.58 | $30.14 | $70.72 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 07A- See Notes)Building | $56.03 | $36.14 | $92.17 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Building, Class 07B- See Notes)Building | $55.69 | $36.03 | $91.72 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 01 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $44.61 | $31.35 | $75.96 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 01A - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $46.86 | $32.01 | $78.87 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 02 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $44.34 | $31.25 | $75.59 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 02A - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $46.59 | $31.92 | $78.51 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 03 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $41.43 | $30.38 | $71.81 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 04 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $40.28 | $30.06 | $70.34 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 05 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $39.83 | $29.93 | $69.76 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 06 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $38.96 | $29.66 | $68.62 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 07A - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $54.32 | $35.64 | $89.96 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Heavy, Class 07B - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $53.97 | $35.54 | $89.51 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 01 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $43.72 | $31.08 | $74.80 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 01a - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $45.97 | $31.76 | $77.73 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 02 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $42.55 | $30.73 | $73.28 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 03 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $41.87 | $30.51 | $72.38 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 04 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $41.41 | $30.39 | $71.80 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 05 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $40.89 | $30.25 | $71.14 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 06 - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $43.95 | $31.15 | $75.10 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 06/A - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $46.21 | $31.80 | $78.01 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 07/A - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $53.25 | $35.32 | $88.57 | May 1, 2026 |
| Operators (Highway, Class 07/B - See Notes)Heavy/Highway | $51.84 | $34.90 | $86.74 | May 1, 2026 |
Davis-Bacon operating engineer rates in these counties
The counties share L&I's rates, but not always the same federal wage determination. Pennsylvania's Act doesn't cover projects where Davis-Bacon applies, so a job uses one schedule or the other (L&I FAQ).
| County | Federal classification | Base + fringe | WD | vs L&I |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| Tioga County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
| York County | Federal rates listed on the county page; no one-to-one match | |||
How the Lancaster 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 Pennsylvania
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Lancaster County groupbase $46.05$77.81
- Lebanon Countybase $46.05$77.81
- York Countybase $46.05$77.81
- Chester Countybase $55.67$91.01
Which county is in which operating engineer group
Every Pennsylvania county with a operating engineer rate. Counties L&I treats alike share one page; the rest have their own.
| Counties | Main classification | Base wage | Total rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County group, 3 localities: Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $55.67 | $91.01 |
| Chester County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $55.67 | $91.01 |
| Delaware County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $55.67 | $91.01 |
| Berks County group, 9 localities: Berks, Bradford, Columbia, Dauphin, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Schuylkill | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Lancaster County group, 3 localities: Lancaster, Tioga, York | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Northampton County group, 3 localities: Cumberland, Northampton, Northumberland | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Lackawanna County group, 2 localities: Lackawanna, Lebanon | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Adams County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Carbon County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Juniata County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Montour County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Perry County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Pike County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Snyder County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Sullivan County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Susquehanna County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Union County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Wayne County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Wyoming County | Operators (Building, Class 01 - See Notes) | $46.05 | $77.81 |
| Allegheny County group, 2 localities: Allegheny, Butler | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Cambria County group, 2 localities: Cambria, Somerset | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Armstrong County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Beaver County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Blair County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Centre County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Clarion County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Clearfield County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Crawford County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Elk County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Erie County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Fayette County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Greene County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Indiana County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Jefferson County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Lawrence County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| McKean County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Mercer County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Venango County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Warren County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Washington County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Westmoreland County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.96 | $69.62 |
| Bedford County group, 2 localities: Bedford, Franklin | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Cameron County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Clinton County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Forest County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Fulton County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Huntingdon County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Mifflin County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
| Potter County | Operators Class 1-A | $44.67 | $69.33 |
8 groups of counties with identical L&I rates, and 41 counties with rates of their own.
Pennsylvania operating engineer prevailing wage by county, with a map
More from L&I on this rate
- L&I's PPWS determination search
- Apprentice rates apply only to apprentices in a program registered with the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council, within its ratios. Determinations list journeyperson rates only (§ 9.103(9)).
Every trade's rates, county by county: Lancaster · Tioga · York
Are you being paid this rate?
Add your base wage to the fringe your employer pays for you, and compare it with the total. A worker can protest to L&I within three months: Bureau of Labor Law Compliance, 1-800-932-0665 (L&I).
Source
Department of Labor & Industry (L&I), PPWS county schedules from each county's newest determination (Oct 25, 2026). For the row this page leads with:
We read each county's newest PPWS determination from L&I's site and check every number with a second read. The totals are the ones L&I prints. How we check · Download every Pennsylvania rate as CSV · Report an error