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Nueces County, TX · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Nueces County, Texas
$14.25an hour, base + fringe
$14.25 wage + $0.00 fringe benefits · Building · SUTX2014-068
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Nueces County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $14.25 an hour: a $14.25 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination TX20260288 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $14.25 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination TX20260288, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUTX2014-068 (July 21, 2014). 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 42 operating engineer rates for Nueces County, from $7.25 to $45.95 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $14.25 + $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) | $14.25 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $14.25 |
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 Nueces 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 ((3) HYDRAULIC CRANES 59 TONS AND UNDER)BuildingENGI0178-005 | $45.45 | $32.35 | $13.10 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR ((1) TOWER CRANE)BuildingENGI0178-005 | $45.95 | $32.85 | $13.10 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $12.70 | $12.70 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)BuildingSUTX2014-068 | $16.03 | $16.03 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $20.85 | $17.52 | $3.33 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $14.49 | $13.55 | $0.94 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $13.37 | $13.37 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $14.83 | $14.83 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: DRILLBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $16.56 | $16.22 | $0.34 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $19.60 | $18.29 | $1.31 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $13.93 | $13.93 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUTX2014-068 | $14.25 | $14.25 | $0.00 | TX20260288 Mod 1 |
| SPREADER BOX OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $20.63 | $20.63 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| ROLLER OPERATOR, OTHERHighwaySATX2025-010 | $16.90 | $16.90 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| ROLLER OPERATOR, ASPHALTHighwaySATX2025-010 | $17.27 | $17.27 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| RECLAIMER/PULVERIZER OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $18.83 | $18.83 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| MOTOR GRADER OPERATOR, ROUGHHighwaySATX2025-010 | $23.06 | $23.06 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| MOTOR GRADER OPERATOR, FINE GRADEHighwaySATX2025-010 | $26.88 | $26.88 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| MILLING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $22.53 | $22.53 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| MECHANICHighwaySATX2025-010 | $25.51 | $25.51 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| LOADER/BACKHOE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $19.01 | $19.01 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| FRONT END LOADER OPERATOR, OVER 3 CYHighwaySATX2025-010 | $18.71 | $18.71 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| FRONT END LOADER OPERATOR, 3 CY OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $18.80 | $18.80 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| EXCAVATOR OPERATOR, OVER 50,000 POUNDSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $22.05 | $22.05 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| EXCAVATOR OPERATOR, 50,000 POUNDS OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $19.69 | $19.69 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| CRAWLER TRACTOR OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $23.23 | $23.23 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, LATTICE BOOM OVER 80 TONSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $34.20 | $34.20 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, HYDRAULIC OVER 80 TONSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $30.25 | $30.25 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| CRANE OPERATOR, HYDRAULIC 80 TONS OR LESSHighwaySATX2025-010 | $27.88 | $27.88 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| BROOM OR SWEEPER OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $16.63 | $16.63 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| ASPHALT PAVING MACHINE OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $19.14 | $19.14 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| ASPHALT DISTRIBUTOR OPERATORHighwaySATX2025-010 | $23.20 | $23.20 | $0.00 | TX20260296 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADERHeavySUTX1987-001 | $8.72 | $8.72 | $0.00 | TX20260021 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (BACKHOE)HeavySUTX1987-001 | $9.21 | $9.21 | $0.00 | TX20260021 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: SCRAPERSResidentialSUTX1992-004 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 | TX20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: MOTOR GRADERSResidentialSUTX1992-004 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 | TX20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BULLDOZERSResidentialSUTX1992-004 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 | TX20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: BACKHOESResidentialSUTX1992-004 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 | TX20260010 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS: (LOADERS)ResidentialSUTX1992-004 | $7.25 | $7.25 | $0.00 | TX20260010 Mod 1 |
| Crane OperatorTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $27.06 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-nueces |
| Equipment Operator - LightTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $16.20 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-nueces |
| Equipment Operator - HeavyTexas A&M System: BuildingTexas A&M System | $16.92 | incl. | incl. | TAMUS-2024-10-14-nueces |
How Nueces 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
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Nueces Countybase $14.25$14.25
- San Patricio Countybase $14.25$14.25
- Kleberg Countybase $13.75$13.75
- Jim Wells Countybase $13.75$13.75
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 Nueces County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nueces County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.25 | $14.25 | |
| San Patricio County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.25 | $14.25 | same |
| Aransas County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.25 | $14.25 | same |
| Kleberg County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $13.75 | $13.75 | −$0.50 |
| Jim Wells County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $13.75 | $13.75 | −$0.50 |
| Bee County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $13.75 | $13.75 | −$0.50 |
| Refugio County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $13.75 | $13.75 | −$0.50 |
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 TX20260288 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/TX20260288/1
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 Nueces County as CSV · Report an error