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Wisconsin operating engineer prevailing wage, county by county

An operating engineer's Davis-Bacon prevailing wage in Wisconsin runs from $27.97 an hour in Wood County to $83.76 in Kenosha County. The median county is $27.97.

Main operating engineer classification in each county, Davis-Bacon wage determinations on SAM.gov, as of October 25, 2026. 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)). Checked October 25, 2026.

Marinette County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWaushara County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourSawyer County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWaupaca County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourManitowoc County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourLincoln County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourTaylor County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWaukesha County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourMarathon County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourClark County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourPortage County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWood County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourMenominee County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourGreen Lake County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourRichland County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourRock County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourKenosha County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourMarquette County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourPrice County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourLanglade County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourChippewa County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourBayfield County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourVernon County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourFlorence County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourOzaukee County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourDodge County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourPierce County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourPolk County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourSt. Croix County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourColumbia County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWashburn County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourPepin County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourCalumet County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourOutagamie County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourBuffalo County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourBarron County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourKewaunee County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourIron County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourCrawford County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourBurnett County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourDane County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourDouglas County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourGrant County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourRacine County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourLa Crosse County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourEau Claire County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourMilwaukee County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourJackson County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourDoor County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourOconto County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourLafayette County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourGreen County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourVilas County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourShawano County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourDunn County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourTrempealeau County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourFond du Lac County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourAshland County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWashington County operating engineer: $83.76 per hourWalworth County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourAdams County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourRusk County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourSauk County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourJefferson County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourOneida County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourMonroe County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourForest County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourJuneau County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourWinnebago County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourBrown County operating engineer: $78.42 per hourIowa County operating engineer: $27.97 per hourSheboygan County operating engineer: $78.42 per hour
$27$27$27$27$78$83Operating Engineer, main rate, base + fringe per hour. Each shade holds about a fifth of the counties.

How much does an operating engineer make on prevailing wage in Wisconsin?

6 groups of counties with identical rates and 15 with rates of their own, highest main rate first. The table below lists which counties are in each group.

  1. Washington County group2 counties$83.76
  2. Kenosha County1 county$83.76
  3. Milwaukee County1 county$83.76
  4. Racine County1 county$83.76
  5. Waukesha County1 county$83.76
  6. Outagamie County group2 counties$78.42
  7. St. Croix County group2 counties$78.42
  8. Brown County1 county$78.42
  9. Chippewa County1 county$78.42
  10. Dane County1 county$78.42
  11. Douglas County1 county$78.42
  12. Eau Claire County1 county$78.42
  13. La Crosse County1 county$78.42
  14. Marathon County1 county$78.42
  15. Rock County1 county$78.42
  16. Sheboygan County1 county$78.42
  17. Winnebago County1 county$78.42
  18. Walworth County group47 counties$27.97
  19. Columbia County group2 counties$27.97
  20. Oconto County group2 counties$27.97
  21. Fond du Lac County1 county$27.97

Which counties pay which rate

CountiesMain classificationBase + fringeBase
Washington County group, 2 localities: Ozaukee, WashingtonPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR W/O ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; OR CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS, AND/OR JIB LENGTHS MEASURING 176 FEET OR LONGER; SELF-ERECTING TOWER CRANES OVER 4000 LBS LIFTING CAPACITY; ALL CRANES WITH BOOM DOLLIES; BORING MACHINES (DIRECTIONAL); MASTER MECHANIC. $0.50 ADDITIONAL PER HOUR PER 100 TONS OR 100 FT OF BOOM OVER 200 FT OR LIFTING CAPACITY OF CRANE OVER 200 TONS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 TONS OR 300 FT. THEREAFTER AN INCREASE OF $0.01 PER FT OR TON, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES) HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$83.76 $55.21 
Kenosha CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR W/O ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; OR CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS, AND/OR JIB LENGTHS MEASURING 176 FEET OR LONGER; SELF-ERECTING TOWER CRANES OVER 4000 LBS LIFTING CAPACITY; ALL CRANES WITH BOOM DOLLIES; BORING MACHINES (DIRECTIONAL); MASTER MECHANIC. $0.50 ADDITIONAL PER HOUR PER 100 TONS OR 100 FT OF BOOM OVER 200 FT OR LIFTING CAPACITY OF CRANE OVER 200 TONS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 TONS OR 300 FT. THEREAFTER AN INCREASE OF $0.01 PER FT OR TON, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES) HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$83.76 $55.21 
Milwaukee CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR W/O ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; OR CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS, AND/OR JIB LENGTHS MEASURING 176 FEET OR LONGER; SELF-ERECTING TOWER CRANES OVER 4000 LBS LIFTING CAPACITY; ALL CRANES WITH BOOM DOLLIES; BORING MACHINES (DIRECTIONAL); MASTER MECHANIC. $0.50 ADDITIONAL PER HOUR PER 100 TONS OR 100 FT OF BOOM OVER 200 FT OR LIFTING CAPACITY OF CRANE OVER 200 TONS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 TONS OR 300 FT. THEREAFTER AN INCREASE OF $0.01 PER FT OR TON, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES) HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$83.76 $55.21 
Racine CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR W/O ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; OR CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS, AND/OR JIB LENGTHS MEASURING 176 FEET OR LONGER; SELF-ERECTING TOWER CRANES OVER 4000 LBS LIFTING CAPACITY; ALL CRANES WITH BOOM DOLLIES; BORING MACHINES (DIRECTIONAL); MASTER MECHANIC. $0.50 ADDITIONAL PER HOUR PER 100 TONS OR 100 FT OF BOOM OVER 200 FT OR LIFTING CAPACITY OF CRANE OVER 200 TONS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 TONS OR 300 FT. THEREAFTER AN INCREASE OF $0.01 PER FT OR TON, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES) HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$83.76 $55.21 
Waukesha CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR W/O ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; OR CRANES, TOWER CRANES, PEDESTAL TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS, AND/OR JIB LENGTHS MEASURING 176 FEET OR LONGER; SELF-ERECTING TOWER CRANES OVER 4000 LBS LIFTING CAPACITY; ALL CRANES WITH BOOM DOLLIES; BORING MACHINES (DIRECTIONAL); MASTER MECHANIC. $0.50 ADDITIONAL PER HOUR PER 100 TONS OR 100 FT OF BOOM OVER 200 FT OR LIFTING CAPACITY OF CRANE OVER 200 TONS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 TONS OR 300 FT. THEREAFTER AN INCREASE OF $0.01 PER FT OR TON, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (KENOSHA, MILWAUKEE, OZAUKEE, RACINE, WASHINGTON, AND WAUKESHA COUNTIES) HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$83.76 $55.21 
Outagamie County group, 2 localities: Calumet, OutagamiePOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
St. Croix County group, 2 localities: Pierce, St. CroixPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Brown CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Chippewa CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Dane CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Douglas CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Eau Claire CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
La Crosse CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Marathon CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Rock CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Sheboygan CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Winnebago CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: GROUP 1 CRANES, TOWER CRANES AND DERRICKS WITH OR WITHOUT ATTACHMENTS WITH A LIFTING CAPACITY OF OVER 100 TONS; CRANES, TOWER CRANES, AND DERRICKS WITH BOOM, LEADS AND/OR JIB LENGTHS 176 FT OR LONGER. HAZARDOUS WASTE PREMIUMS: EPA LEVEL "A" PROTECTION: $3.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "B" PROTECTION: $2.00 PER HOUR EPA LEVEL "C" PROTECTION: $1.00 PER HOUR$78.42 $50.53 
Walworth County group, 47 localities: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Clark, Crawford, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Florence, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Monroe, Oneida, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Richland, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Waupaca, Waushara, WoodPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (FRONT END LOADER)$27.97 $23.36 
Columbia County group, 2 localities: Columbia, IowaPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (FRONT END LOADER)$27.97 $23.36 
Oconto County group, 2 localities: Kewaunee, OcontoPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (FRONT END LOADER)$27.97 $23.36 
Fond du Lac CountyPOWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR (FRONT END LOADER)$27.97 $23.36 

6 groups of counties with identical DOL rates, and 15 counties with rates of their own.

Questions about Wisconsin operating engineer pay

What is the operating engineer prevailing wage in Milwaukee County?

$83.76 an hour: a $55.21 base wage plus $28.55 in fringe benefits, under wage determination WI20260001, modification 1. Overtime and every operating engineer classification in Milwaukee County.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage include fringe benefits?

Yes. In Milwaukee County the $83.76 total is a $55.21 base wage plus $28.55 in fringe benefits, about 34% of the total. The employer owes the full amount for every hour worked.

Does operating engineer prevailing wage pay overtime in Wisconsin?

Davis-Bacon rates are straight time. On contracts over $100,000, the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act requires 1½ times the basic rate for hours over 40 in a workweek (40 U.S.C. 3702). The fringe is owed for every hour at its straight-time amount.

Do apprentice operating engineers get this rate?

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)).

Why do some counties have the same operating engineer rate?

DOL often publishes the same operating engineer rates for several counties. Across Wisconsin, the 72 counties with an operating engineer rate fall into 21 distinct sets of rates, and 6 of those sets are shared by more than one county; the largest covers 47 counties (the Walworth County group).