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Charleston County, SC · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Charleston County, South Carolina
$23.16an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$19.62 base wage + $3.54 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUSC2011-019
$18.85an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$18.85 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUSC2016-002
$23.79an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$23.79 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE (CHARLESTON) · SUSC2011-032
$17.74an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$15.54 base wage + $2.20 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUSC2011-039
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Charleston County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $23.16 an hour: a $19.62 base wage plus $3.54 in fringe benefits, under wage determination SC20260023 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $23.16 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination SC20260023, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUSC2011-019 (August 31, 2011). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Charleston County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $18.85 an hour: a $18.85 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination SC20260059 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $18.85 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination SC20260059, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUSC2016-002 (October 18, 2017). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Charleston County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $23.79 an hour: a $23.79 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination SC20260034 (modification 2). DOL prints no total, so $23.79 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination SC20260034, modification 2, published October 22, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUSC2011-032 (September 15, 2011). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Charleston County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $17.74 an hour: a $15.54 base wage plus $2.20 in fringe benefits, under wage determination SC20260041 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $17.74 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination SC20260041, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUSC2011-039 (November 2, 2011). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Davis-Bacon is the only prevailing wage here (federally funded or assisted work). South Carolina has no state prevailing wage law (DOL state table).
DOL lists 22 operating engineer rates for Charleston County, from $12.48 to $29.68 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $19.62 + $3.54
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) | $19.62 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $3.54 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $23.16 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $18.85 + $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) | $18.85 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $18.85 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $23.79 + $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) | $23.79 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $23.79 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $15.54 + $2.20
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) | $15.54 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $2.20 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $17.74 |
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 South Carolina change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Charleston County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (CHARLESTON)Highway · SUSC2011-032$29.68
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANIC (CHARLESTON)Highway · SUSC2011-032$28.40
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER (BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, DORCHESTER)Highway · SUSC2011-032$27.87
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END/TRACK)Highway · SUSC2011-032$24.84
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE (CHARLESTON)Highway · SUSC2011-032$23.79
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuilding · SUSC2011-019$23.16
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ROLLERHighway · SUSC2011-032$22.43
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighway · SUSC2011-032$21.89
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighway · SUSC2011-032$21.60
- OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHeavy · SUSC2011-039$21.50
- OPERATOR: CRANEBuilding · SUSC2011-019$21.41
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCREEDHighway · SUSC2011-032$20.05
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuilding · SUSC2011-019$19.72
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: TRACTORHighway · SUSC2011-032$19.63
- OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuilding · SUSC2011-019$19.15
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEResidential · SUSC2016-002$18.85
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCRAPERHighway · SUSC2011-032$18.79
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavy · SUSC2011-039$17.74
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighway · SUSC2011-032$17.50
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: HYDROSEEDERHighway · SUSC2011-032$16.26
- OPERATOR: LOADERBuilding · SUSC2011-019$16.17
- OPERATOR: LOADERHeavy · SUSC2011-039$12.48
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUSC2011-019 | $14.18 | $1.99 | $16.17 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUSC2011-019 | $17.59 | $1.56 | $19.15 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEBuildingSUSC2011-019 | $19.39 | $2.02 | $21.41 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUSC2011-019 | $17.07 | $2.65 | $19.72 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUSC2011-019 | $19.62 | $3.54 | $23.16 | SC20260023 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE (CHARLESTON)HighwaySUSC2011-032 | $23.79 | $0.00 | $23.79 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $21.89 | $0.00 | $21.89 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANE (CHARLESTON)HighwaySUSC2011-032 | $29.68 | $0.00 | $29.68 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $21.60 | $0.00 | $21.60 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: HYDROSEEDERHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $16.26 | $0.00 | $16.26 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END/TRACK)HighwaySUSC2011-032 | $24.84 | $0.00 | $24.84 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MECHANIC (CHARLESTON)HighwaySUSC2011-032 | $28.40 | $0.00 | $28.40 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $17.50 | $0.00 | $17.50 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: PAVER (BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, DORCHESTER)HighwaySUSC2011-032 | $27.87 | $0.00 | $27.87 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $22.43 | $0.00 | $22.43 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCRAPERHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $18.79 | $0.00 | $18.79 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: SCREEDHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $20.05 | $0.00 | $20.05 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: TRACTORHighwaySUSC2011-032 | $19.63 | $0.00 | $19.63 | SC20260034 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUSC2011-039 | $10.50 | $1.98 | $12.48 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHeavySUSC2011-039 | $20.11 | $1.39 | $21.50 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUSC2011-039 | $15.54 | $2.20 | $17.74 | SC20260041 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEResidentialSUSC2016-002 | $18.85 | $0.00 | $18.85 | SC20260059 Mod 1 |
How Charleston 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 South Carolina
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Charleston Countybase $19.62$23.16
- Berkeley Countybase $19.62$23.16
- Dorchester Countybase $19.62$23.16
- Colleton Countybase $16.95$18.78
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 Charleston County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.62 | $23.16 | |
| Berkeley County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.62 | $23.16 | same |
| Dorchester County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.62 | $23.16 | same |
| Beaufort County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.14 | $21.76 | −$1.40 |
| Colleton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.95 | $18.78 | −$4.38 |
| Georgetown County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.95 | $18.78 | −$4.38 |
| Williamsburg County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $16.95 | $18.78 | −$4.38 |
South 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 SC20260023 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/SC20260023/1
We read every active South 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 Charleston County as CSV · Report an error