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Sussex County, VA · Operating Engineer
Operating Engineer prevailing wage in Sussex County, Virginia
$58.04an hour, base + fringe
$39.99 wage + $18.05 fringe benefits · Building · ENGI0147-019
On federally funded or assisted building construction in Sussex County, an operating engineer must be paid at least $58.04 an hour: a $39.99 base wage plus $18.05 in fringe benefits, under wage determination VA20260166 (modification 1). DOL prints no total, so $58.04 is our sum of the two.
Wage determination VA20260166, modification 1, published May 18, 2026, for building construction; rate identifier ENGI0147-019 (June 1, 2025). 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 36 operating engineer rates for Sussex County, from $16.06 to $59.04 an hour. See all of them.
Base wage and fringe benefits: $39.99 + $18.05
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) | $39.99 |
| Fringe benefits (one figure, not itemized) | $18.05 |
| Base + fringe benefits (our sum; DOL prints no total) | $58.04 |
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 Virginia change log lists what each one changed.
Every operating engineer rate in Sussex 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 UNDER 90 TONS)BuildingENGI0147-019 | $58.04 | $39.99 | $18.05 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES 90 TONS & OVER CAPACITY; TOWER & CLIMBING CRANES WITH CONTROLS 100 FT. ABOVE GROUND)BuildingENGI0147-019 | $59.04 | $40.99 | $18.05 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $21.13 | $16.25 | $4.88 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $24.45 | $21.28 | $3.17 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: FORKLIFTBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $26.40 | $19.40 | $7.00 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $17.50 | $17.50 | $0.00 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $22.98 | $18.95 | $4.03 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEBuildingSUVA2013-051 | $21.17 | $19.74 | $1.43 | VA20260166 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZER, INCLUDING UTILITYHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $20.91 | $18.22 | $2.69 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ASPHALT SPREADER AND DISTRIBUTORHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $20.90 | $19.09 | $1.81 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: SCREEDHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $27.02 | $22.13 | $4.89 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLER (FINISHING)HighwaySUVA2016-081 | $20.34 | $19.05 | $1.29 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: ROLLERHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $21.69 | $21.69 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: PAVER (ASPHALT, AGGREGATE, AND CONCRETE)HighwaySUVA2016-081 | $20.32 | $20.32 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MILLING MACHINEHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $26.72 | $23.12 | $3.60 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: MECHANICHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $21.43 | $21.43 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $17.17 | $17.17 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: HYDROSEEDERHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $16.64 | $16.64 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADEHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $23.21 | $23.21 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: GRADALLHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $19.26 | $19.26 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: DRILLHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $24.66 | $24.66 | $0.00 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: CRANEHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $29.11 | $24.42 | $4.69 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BROOM/SWEEPERHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $19.41 | $17.40 | $2.01 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $23.61 | $19.16 | $4.45 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHighwaySUVA2016-081 | $21.22 | $18.31 | $2.91 | VA20260196 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: CRANEHeavyENGI0147-026 | $58.04 | $39.99 | $18.05 | VA20260206 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEHeavySUVA2018-011 | $20.79 | $20.79 | $0.00 | VA20260206 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERHeavySUVA2018-011 | $25.20 | $21.37 | $3.83 | VA20260206 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BULLDOZERHeavySUVA2018-011 | $40.33 | $25.18 | $15.15 | VA20260206 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: LOADERHeavySUVA2018-011 | $23.80 | $16.93 | $6.87 | VA20260206 Mod 2 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS)ResidentialENGI0147-012 | $58.04 | $39.99 | $18.05 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES 90 TONS & OVER CAPACITY; TOWER & CLIMBING CRANES WITH CONTROLS 100 FT. ABOVE GROUND)ResidentialENGI0147-012 | $59.04 | $40.99 | $18.05 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: LOADERResidentialSUVA2012-025 | $17.98 | $15.21 | $2.77 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BULLDOZERResidentialSUVA2012-025 | $17.18 | $14.91 | $2.27 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADERResidentialSUVA2012-025 | $16.06 | $15.26 | $0.80 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
| OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOEResidentialSUVA2012-025 | $20.56 | $18.58 | $1.98 | VA20260147 Mod 1 |
How Sussex 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
- Sussex Countybase $39.99$58.04
- Southampton Countybase $14.11$14.11
- Prince George Countybase $19.74$21.17
- Petersburg (independent city)base $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.
| County or city | Classification | Base + fringe | Base | vs Sussex County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (CRANES UNDER 90 TONS) | $58.04 | $39.99 | |
| Prince George County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $19.74 | −$36.87 |
| Petersburg (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $19.74 | −$36.87 |
| Dinwiddie County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $21.17 | $19.74 | −$36.87 |
| Southampton County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | −$43.93 |
| Emporia (independent city) | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | −$43.93 |
| Surry County | POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: BACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $14.11 | $14.11 | −$43.93 |
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 VA20260166 Mod 1, published May 18, 2026: sam.gov/wage-determination/VA20260166/1
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 Sussex County as CSV · Report an error