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Tennessee operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county
An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Tennessee runs from $19.53 an hour in Montgomery County to $46.63 in Anderson County. The median county is $46.63.
Main operating engineer classification in each county, Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, as of October 25, 2026. 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)). Checked October 25, 2026.
How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Tennessee?
11 groups of counties with identical rates and 74 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The top 40 are drawn. The table below lists which counties are in each group.
- Cumberland County group2 counties$46.63
- Dyer County group2 counties$46.63
- Fentress County group2 counties$46.63
- Hardin County group2 counties$46.63
- Henry County group2 counties$46.63
- Lauderdale County group2 counties$46.63
- Lincoln County group2 counties$46.63
- Monroe County group2 counties$46.63
- Putnam County group2 counties$46.63
- Wayne County group2 counties$46.63
- Anderson County1 county$46.63
- Bedford County1 county$46.63
- Benton County1 county$46.63
- Bledsoe County1 county$46.63
- Carroll County1 county$46.63
- Claiborne County1 county$46.63
- Clay County1 county$46.63
- Cocke County1 county$46.63
- Coffee County1 county$46.63
- Franklin County1 county$46.63
- Gibson County1 county$46.63
- Giles County1 county$46.63
- Greene County1 county$46.63
- Grundy County1 county$46.63
- Hardeman County1 county$46.63
- Houston County1 county$46.63
- Humphreys County1 county$46.63
- Jackson County1 county$46.63
- Johnson County1 county$46.63
- Lawrence County1 county$46.63
- Marshall County1 county$46.63
- McMinn County1 county$46.63
- McNairy County1 county$46.63
- Meigs County1 county$46.63
- Moore County1 county$46.63
- Obion County1 county$46.63
- Overton County1 county$46.63
- Roane County1 county$46.63
- Scott County1 county$46.63
- Sevier County1 county$46.63
Which counties pay which rate
| Counties | Main classification | Base + fringe | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County group, 2 localities: Cumberland, DeKalb | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Dyer County group, 2 localities: Decatur, Dyer | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Fentress County group, 2 localities: Fentress, Hancock | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Hardin County group, 2 localities: Hardin, Haywood | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Henry County group, 2 localities: Henderson, Henry | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Lauderdale County group, 2 localities: Lake, Lauderdale | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Lincoln County group, 2 localities: Lewis, Lincoln | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Monroe County group, 2 localities: Monroe, Rhea | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Putnam County group, 2 localities: Pickett, Putnam | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Wayne County group, 2 localities: Perry, Wayne | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Anderson County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Bedford County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Benton County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Bledsoe County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Carroll County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Claiborne County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Clay County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Cocke County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Coffee County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Franklin County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Gibson County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Giles County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Greene County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Grundy County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Hardeman County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Houston County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Humphreys County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Jackson County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Johnson County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Lawrence County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Marshall County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| McMinn County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| McNairy County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Meigs County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Moore County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Obion County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Overton County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Roane County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Scott County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Sevier County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Stewart County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Van Buren County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Warren County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Weakley County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| White County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE/TRACKHOE/EXCAVATOR) | $46.63 | $33.23 |
| Blount County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Campbell County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Grainger County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Knox County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Loudon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Morgan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Union County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $37.52 | $27.77 |
| Tennessee state highway rates | Large Crane Operator | $33.81 | $33.81 |
| Dickson County group, 2 localities: Dickson, Hickman | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Cannon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Cheatham County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Davidson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Macon County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Maury County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Robertson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Rutherford County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Smith County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Sumner County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Trousdale County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Williamson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Wilson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.50 | $24.50 |
| Marion County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.09 | $24.09 |
| Sequatchie County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.09 | $24.09 |
| Bradley County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.08 | $24.08 |
| Polk County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $24.08 | $24.08 |
| Hamilton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.94 | $23.94 |
| Chester County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Crockett County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Fayette County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Madison County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Shelby County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Tipton County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $23.06 | $23.06 |
| Carter County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Hamblen County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Hawkins County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Jefferson County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Sullivan County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Unicoi County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Washington County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $21.17 |
| Montgomery County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.53 | $19.53 |
11 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 74 counties with rates of their own.
Questions about Tennessee operating engineer pay
What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Shelby County?
$23.06 an hour: a $23.06 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TN20260200, modification 1. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Shelby County.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?
Yes. In Shelby County the $23.06 total is a $23.06 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, about 0% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.
Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Tennessee?
Davis-Bacon rates are straight time. On contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires 1½ times the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (40 U.S.C. 3702). The fringe is owed for every hour at its straight-time amount.
Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?
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)).
Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?
DOL often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Tennessee, the 96 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 85 distinct sets of rates, and 11 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 2 counties (the Cumberland County group).