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Harris County, TX · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Harris County, Texas
$49.86an hour, base + fringe
$39.47 wage + $10.39 fringe benefits · Building · ENGI0450-002
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Harris County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $49.86 an hour: a $39.47 base wage plus $10.39 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260253 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $49.86 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260253, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier ENGI0450-002 (April 1, 2024). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Texas public bodies set their own rates, often the Davis-Bacon ones; check the bid documents. Under Gov't Code 2258.022 each body either surveys local wages or adopts the Davis-Bacon rates, and no state agency publishes a schedule.
DOL lists 116 operating engineer rates for Harris County, from $12.16 to $49.86 an hour. See all of them.
City of Houston contracts use Houston's 2026 wage scales, which copy these Davis-Bacon rates; they are listed with each trade, marked City of Houston. Harris County posts the same SAM.gov determinations with its own contractor minimum wage of $21.65 an hour.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $39.47 + $10.39
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) | $39.47 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $10.39 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $49.86 |
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 Texas change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Harris County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base + fringe | Base | Fringe benefits | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES)BuildingENGI0450-002 | $49.86 | $39.47 | $10.39 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $16.00 | $16.00 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)BuildingSUTX2014-029 | $16.03 | $16.03 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $20.85 | $17.52 | $3.33 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $14.49 | $13.55 | $0.94 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $13.37 | $13.37 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $16.00 | $16.00 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: DRILLBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $16.56 | $16.22 | $0.34 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $22.75 | $22.75 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $13.93 | $13.93 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUTX2014-029 | $13.94 | $13.94 | $0.00 | TX20260253 Mod 1 |
| SPREADER BOX OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $17.84 | $17.84 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| ROLLER OPERATOR, OTHERHighwaySATX2025-013 | $18.93 | $18.93 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| ROLLER OPERATOR, ASPHALTHighwaySATX2025-013 | $19.79 | $19.79 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| MOTOR GRADER OPERATOR, ROUGHHighwaySATX2025-013 | $21.20 | $21.20 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| MOTOR GRADER OPERATOR, FINE GRADEHighwaySATX2025-013 | $23.91 | $23.91 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| MILLING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $21.65 | $21.65 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| MECHANICHighwaySATX2025-013 | $23.38 | $23.38 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| LOADER/BACKHOE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $21.37 | $21.37 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| FRONT END LOADER OPERATOR, OVER 3 CYHighwaySATX2025-013 | $20.34 | $20.34 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| FRONT END LOADER OPERATOR, 3 CY OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $19.72 | $19.72 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| FOUNDATION DRILL OPERATOR, CRAWLER MOUNTEDHighwaySATX2025-013 | $22.25 | $22.25 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| EXCAVATOR OPERATOR, OVER 50,000 POUNDSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $22.24 | $22.24 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| EXCAVATOR OPERATOR, 50,000 POUNDS OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $21.53 | $21.53 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CRAWLER TRACTOR OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $20.33 | $20.33 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, LATTICE BOOM OVER 80 TONSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $23.85 | $23.85 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, LATTICE BOOM 80 TONS OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $25.74 | $25.74 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, HYDRAULIC 80 TONS OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-013 | $24.75 | $24.75 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CONCRETE PAVING, CURING, FLOAT, TEXTURING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $22.62 | $22.62 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| CONCRETE PAVEMENT FINISHING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $22.18 | $22.18 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| BROOM OR SWEEPER OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $17.63 | $17.63 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| ASPHALT PAVING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $22.67 | $22.67 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| ASPHALT DISTRIBUTOR OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-013 | $23.26 | $23.26 | $0.00 | TX20260299 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: TRACTORHeavySUTX2005-019 | $15.00 | $15.00 | $0.00 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GRADERHeavySUTX2005-019 | $13.68 | $12.20 | $1.48 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FRONT END LOADERHeavySUTX2005-019 | $12.16 | $12.16 | $0.00 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOEHeavySUTX2005-019 | $13.47 | $13.47 | $0.00 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (EXCAVATOR)HeavySUTX2005-019 | $16.37 | $16.37 | $0.00 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (CRANE)HeavySUTX2005-019 | $15.90 | $15.33 | $0.57 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: (BULLDOZER)HeavySUTX2005-019 | $12.58 | $12.58 | $0.00 | TX20260031 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: FORKLIFTResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $12.54 | $12.54 | $0.00 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (GRADER)ResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $13.67 | $13.67 | $0.00 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (FRONT END LOADER)ResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $12.69 | $12.00 | $0.69 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BULLDOZER)ResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $13.36 | $12.67 | $0.69 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (BACKHOE)ResidentialSUTX2005-030 | $14.24 | $13.55 | $0.69 | TX20260067 Mod 1 |
| Crane OperatorTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $27.97 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-harris |
| Equipment Operator - LightTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $16.20 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-harris |
| Equipment Operator - HeavyTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $17.49 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-harris |
| Asphalt Distributor OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $23.26 | $23.26 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Asphalt Paving Machine OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $22.67 | $22.67 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Loader/Backhoe OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $21.37 | $21.37 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| MechanicCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $23.38 | $23.38 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Broom or Sweeper OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $17.63 | $17.63 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Milling Machine OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $21.65 | $21.65 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Motor Grader Operator, Fine GradeCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $23.91 | $23.91 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Pavement Finishing Machine OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $22.18 | $22.18 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Motor Grader Operator, RoughCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $21.20 | $21.20 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Paving, Curing, Float, Texturing Machine OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $22.62 | $22.62 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Saw OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $21.57 | $21.57 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Hydraulic 80 tons or lessCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $24.75 | $24.75 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Lattice Boom 80 Tons or LessCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $25.74 | $25.74 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Lattice Boom Over 80 TonsCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $23.85 | $23.85 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Crawler Tractor OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $20.33 | $20.33 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Roller Operator, AsphaltCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $19.79 | $19.79 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Excavator Operator, 50,000 pounds or lessCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $21.53 | $21.53 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Roller Operator, OtherCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $18.93 | $18.93 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Excavator Operator, Over 50,000 poundsCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $22.24 | $22.24 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| ServicerCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $20.33 | $20.33 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Spreader Box OperatorCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $17.84 | $17.84 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Foundation Drill Operator, Crawler MountedCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $22.25 | $22.25 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Foundation Drill Operator, Truck MountedCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $26.04 | $26.04 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Front End Loader Operator, 3 CY or LessCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $19.72 | $19.72 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Front End Loader Operator, Over 3 CYCity of Houston: EngineeringCity of Houston | $20.34 | $20.34 | $0.00 | COH-00820-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, Backhoe / excavator / trackhoeCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $13.94 | $13.94 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, Bobcat / skid steer / skid loaderCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $13.93 | $13.93 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, BulldozerCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $22.75 | $22.75 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, DrillCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $16.56 | $16.22 | $0.34 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, ForkliftCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $16.00 | $16.00 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, Grader/bladeCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $13.37 | $13.37 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, LoaderCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $14.49 | $13.55 | $0.94 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, MechanicCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $20.85 | $17.52 | $3.33 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, Paver (asphalt, aggregate, and concrete)City of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $16.03 | $16.03 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Operator, RollerCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $16.00 | $16.00 | $0.00 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, CranesCity of Houston: BuildingCity of Houston | $49.86 | $39.47 | $10.39 | COH-00821-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, backhoeCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $13.47 | $13.47 | $0.00 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, bulldozerCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $12.58 | $12.58 | $0.00 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, craneCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $15.90 | $15.33 | $0.57 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, excavatorCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $16.37 | $16.37 | $0.00 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, front end loaderCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $12.16 | $12.16 | $0.00 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, graderCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $13.68 | $12.20 | $1.48 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Power Equipment Operator, tractorCity of Houston: HeavyCity of Houston | $15.00 | $15.00 | $0.00 | COH-00812-2026-02-01 |
| Asphalt Distributor OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $23.26 | $23.26 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Asphalt Paving Machine OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $22.67 | $22.67 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Loader/Backhoe OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $21.37 | $21.37 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| MechanicCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $23.38 | $23.38 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Broom or Sweeper OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $17.63 | $17.63 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Milling Machine OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $21.65 | $21.65 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Motor Grader Operator, Fine GradeCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $23.91 | $23.91 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Pavement Finishing Machine OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $22.18 | $22.18 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Motor Grader Operator, RoughCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $21.20 | $21.20 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Paving, Curing, Float, Texturing Machine OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $22.62 | $22.62 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Concrete Saw OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $21.57 | $21.57 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Hydraulic 80 tons or lessCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $24.75 | $24.75 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Lattice Boom 80 Tons or LessCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $25.74 | $25.74 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Crane Operator, Lattice Boom Over 80 TonsCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $23.85 | $23.85 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Crawler Tractor OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $20.33 | $20.33 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Roller Operator, AsphaltCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $19.79 | $19.79 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Excavator Operator, 50,000 pounds or lessCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $21.53 | $21.53 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Roller Operator, OtherCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $18.93 | $18.93 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Excavator Operator, Over 50,000 poundsCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $22.24 | $22.24 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| ServicerCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $20.33 | $20.33 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Spreader Box OperatorCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $17.84 | $17.84 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Foundation Drill Operator, Crawler MountedCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $22.25 | $22.25 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Foundation Drill Operator, Truck MountedCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $26.04 | $26.04 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Front End Loader Operator, 3 CY or LessCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $19.72 | $19.72 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
| Front End Loader Operator, Over 3 CYCity of Houston: HighwayCity of Houston | $20.34 | $20.34 | $0.00 | COH-00810-2026-02-01 |
How Harris 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 Texas
Harris $49.8628156
$11.00Bosque$49.86Atascosa
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Harris Countybase $39.47$49.86
- Montgomery Countybase $39.47$49.86
- Fort Bend Countybase $39.47$49.86
- Grimes Countybase $14.67$15.14
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 Harris County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harris County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | |
| Montgomery County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
| Fort Bend County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
| Waller County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
| Liberty County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
| Galveston County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
| Brazoria County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES) | $49.86 | $39.47 | same |
Texas 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 TX20260253 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/TX20260253/1
We read every active Texas 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. The Texas A&M University System, City of Houston and City of Austin rows are copied from those bodies' own schedules, with their source on each row. How we check · Download Harris County as CSV · Report an error