Home / Virginia / Essex County / Operating Engineer
Essex County, VA · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Essex County, Virginia
$14.11an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$14.11 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2013-016
$18.75an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$18.75 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: LOADER · SUVA2012-002
$19.97an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$19.97 base wage + $0.00 fringe benefits
OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE · SUVA2016-034
$19.83an hour, base wage + fringe benefits (our sum)
$18.11 base wage + $1.72 fringe benefits
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE · SUVA2010-024
Essex County uses the same operating engineer rates as 5 other localities. See all of them on one page.
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Essex County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $14.11 an hour: a $14.11 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260007 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $14.11 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260007, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier SUVA2013-016 (January 11, 2016). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted residential construction in Essex County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $18.75 an hour: a $18.75 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260129 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $18.75 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260129, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for residential construction; rate identifier SUVA2012-002 (August 8, 2014). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted highway construction in Essex County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $19.97 an hour: a $19.97 base wage plus $0.00 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260098 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $19.97 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260098, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for highway construction; rate identifier SUVA2016-034 (July 2, 2018). Checked against sam.gov on October 25, 2026.
On federally funded or assisted heavy construction in Essex County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $19.83 an hour: a $18.11 base wage plus $1.72 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260023 (modification 2). DOL prints no total, so $19.83 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260023, modification 2, published October 15, 2026, for heavy construction; rate identifier SUVA2010-024 (September 1, 2010). 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 19 operating engineer rates for Essex County, from $14.11 to $56.84 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $14.11 + $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) | $14.11 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $14.11 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $18.75 + $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) | $18.75 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $18.75 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $19.97 + $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) | $19.97 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.97 |
Base wage and fringe benefits: $18.11 + $1.72
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) | $18.11 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $1.72 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $19.83 |
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 Essex County
As DOL lists them. The highlighted row is the one this page leads with.
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuilding · ENGI0147-015$56.84
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEHeavy · SUVA2010-024$39.34
- OPERATOR: CRANEHighway · SUVA2016-034$26.68
- OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE, INCLUDES FINISHINGHighway · SUVA2016-034$26.13
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavy · SUVA2010-024$25.37
- OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADER AND DISTRIBUTORHighway · SUVA2016-034$21.53
- OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighway · SUVA2016-034$21.13
- OPERATOR: LOADERHighway · SUVA2016-034$20.58
- OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)Highway · SUVA2016-034$20.15
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: EXCAVATORHeavy · SUVA2010-024$20.09
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighway · SUVA2016-034$19.97
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOEHeavy · SUVA2010-024$19.83
- POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADERHeavy · SUVA2010-024$19.45
- OPERATOR: ROLLERHighway · SUVA2016-034$19.16
- OPERATOR: MECHANICHighway · SUVA2016-034$19.15
- OPERATOR: LOADERResidential · SUVA2012-002$18.75
- OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighway · SUVA2016-034$17.66
- OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighway · SUVA2016-034$16.38
- OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuilding · SUVA2013-016$14.11
| Classification | Base wage | Fringe benefits | Total rate | WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingENGI0147-015 | $38.79 | $18.05 | $56.84 | VA20260007 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUVA2013-016 | $14.11 | $0.00 | $14.11 | VA20260007 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADER AND DISTRIBUTORHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $21.53 | $0.00 | $21.53 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $19.16 | $0.00 | $19.16 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUVA2016-034 | $20.15 | $0.00 | $20.15 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $21.13 | $0.00 | $21.13 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $19.15 | $0.00 | $19.15 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $17.80 | $2.78 | $20.58 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE, INCLUDES FINISHINGHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $26.13 | $0.00 | $26.13 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $26.68 | $0.00 | $26.68 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $17.66 | $0.00 | $17.66 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $16.15 | $0.23 | $16.38 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUVA2016-034 | $19.97 | $0.00 | $19.97 | VA20260098 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOEHeavySUVA2010-024 | $18.11 | $1.72 | $19.83 | VA20260023 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUVA2010-024 | $25.37 | $0.00 | $25.37 | VA20260023 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: EXCAVATORHeavySUVA2010-024 | $17.31 | $2.78 | $20.09 | VA20260023 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUVA2010-024 | $17.86 | $1.59 | $19.45 | VA20260023 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEHeavySUVA2010-024 | $29.08 | $10.26 | $39.34 | VA20260023 Mod 2 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERResidentialSUVA2012-002 | $18.75 | $0.00 | $18.75 | VA20260129 Mod 1 |
How Essex County 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
- Essex Countybase $14.11$14.11
- Richmond Countybase $14.11$14.11
- Westmoreland Countybase $14.11$14.11
- King William Countybase $19.74$21.17
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.
DOL's operating engineer rates for Essex County are the same as in 5 other localities: Lancaster, Middlesex, Northampton, Richmond, Westmoreland.
| County or city | Classification | Base wage | Total rate | vs Essex County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $39.99 | $58.04 | +$43.93 |
| King William County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $19.74 | $21.17 | +$7.06 |
| Essex County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | |
| Richmond County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | same |
| Westmoreland County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | same |
| King and Queen County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | same |
| King George County | OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | same |
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 VA20260007 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/VA20260007/1
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 Essex County as CSV · Report an error