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Chesapeake (independent city), VA · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Chesapeake (independent city), Virginia
$22.04an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$20.69 base wage + $1.35 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2013-030
$20.21an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$19.71 base wage + $0.50 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2012-013
$20.74an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$20.74 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2016-080
$37.42an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$21.67 base wage + $15.75 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2018-025
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Chesapeake (independent city), an operating engineer must be paid at least $22.04 an hour: a $20.69 base wage plus $1.35 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260016 (modification 2). DOL prints no total, so $22.04 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260016, modification 2, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUVA2013-030 (January 11, 2016). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Chesapeake (independent city), an operating engineer must be paid at least $20.21 an hour: a $19.71 base wage plus $0.50 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260135 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $20.21 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260135, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUVA2012-013 (August 8, 2014). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Chesapeake (independent city), an operating engineer must be paid at least $20.74 an hour: a $20.74 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260195 (modification 3). DOL prints no total, so $20.74 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260195, modification 3, published August 13, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUVA2016-080 (July 2, 2018). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Chesapeake (independent city), an operating engineer must be paid at least $37.42 an hour: a $21.67 base wage plus $15.75 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260212 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $37.42 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260212, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUVA2018-025 (January 5, 2023). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
Virginia's prevailing wage for state-funded public works over $250,000, and for localities that adopt it by ordinance, uses these same rates: DOLI's wage determinations "are based on" the Davis-Bacon ones, with no project-specific determinations (Va. Code 2.2-4321.3; DOLI). Only DOLI's official copy sent to the contracting agency counts for official purposes.
DOL lists 34 operating engineer rates for Chesapeake (independent city), from $16.06 to $60.04 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $20.69 + $1.35
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) | $20.69 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.35 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $22.04 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $19.71 + $0.50
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) | $19.71 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $0.50 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $20.21 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $20.74 + $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) | $20.74 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $20.74 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $21.67 + $15.75
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) | $21.67 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $15.75 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $37.42 |
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 Virginia change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Chesapeake (independent city)
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $16.25 | $4.88 | $21.13 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $21.28 | $3.17 | $24.45 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $19.40 | $7.00 | $26.40 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $18.07 | $3.50 | $21.57 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $18.95 | $4.03 | $22.98 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUVA2013-030 | $20.69 | $1.35 | $22.04 | VA20260016 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $20.74 | $0.00 | $20.74 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $19.16 | $4.45 | $23.61 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $17.40 | $2.01 | $19.41 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $24.42 | $4.69 | $29.11 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: DRILLHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $24.66 | $0.00 | $24.66 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: GRADALLHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $19.26 | $0.00 | $19.26 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $23.21 | $0.00 | $23.21 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: HYDROSEEDERHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $16.64 | $0.00 | $16.64 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $17.86 | $0.00 | $17.86 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $21.43 | $0.00 | $21.43 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $23.12 | $3.60 | $26.72 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUVA2016-080 | $20.12 | $3.81 | $23.93 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $21.32 | $0.00 | $21.32 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: SCREEDHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $22.13 | $4.89 | $27.02 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADER AND DISTRIBUTORHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $19.09 | $1.81 | $20.90 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZER, INCLUDING UTILITYHighwaySUVA2016-080 | $19.43 | $0.00 | $19.43 | VA20260195 Mod 3 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOAT OPERATORHeavyENGI0147-002 | $41.99 | $18.05 | $60.04 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEHeavyENGI0147-026 | $39.99 | $18.05 | $58.04 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUVA2018-025 | $17.03 | $6.99 | $24.02 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUVA2018-025 | $25.18 | $15.15 | $40.33 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHeavySUVA2018-025 | $21.37 | $3.83 | $25.20 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUVA2018-025 | $21.67 | $15.75 | $37.42 | VA20260212 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS)ResidentialENGI0147-012 | $39.99 | $18.05 | $58.04 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES 90 TONS & OVER CAPACITY; TOWER & CLIMBING CRANES WITH CONTROLS 100 FT. ABOVE GROUND)ResidentialENGI0147-012 | $40.99 | $18.05 | $59.04 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERResidentialSUVA2012-013 | $15.21 | $2.77 | $17.98 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidentialSUVA2012-013 | $15.17 | $2.27 | $17.44 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERResidentialSUVA2012-013 | $15.26 | $0.80 | $16.06 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEResidentialSUVA2012-013 | $19.71 | $0.50 | $20.21 | VA20260135 Mod 1 |
How Chesapeake (independent city) compares
The main operating engineer rate in every county or city that has one, and how the pay splits here and nearby. All bars use the same scale.
Every county or city in Virginia
Wage and fringe benefits, nearby
- Chesapeake (independent city)base $20.69$22.04
- Portsmouth (independent city)base $39.99$58.04
- Virginia Beach (independent city)base $39.99$58.04
- Norfolk (independent city)base $39.99$58.04
Operating Engineer rates in nearby localities
Current DOL rates. Davis-Bacon rates are set for groups of counties and cities, so neighbours often share them; the county or city where the work is done decides.
| County or city | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Chesapeake (independent city) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Virginia Beach (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Norfolk (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Suffolk (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Hampton (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Isle of Wight County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$36.00 |
| Chesapeake (independent city) | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $20.69 | $22.04 |
Virginia operating engineer prevailing wage by county or city, 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 VA20260016 Mod 2, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/VA20260016/2
We read every active Virginia 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 Chesapeake (independent city) as CSV · Report an error