What is the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage for a heavy equipment operator in District of Columbia?

There is no single figure. Active federal determinations for District of Columbia publish 18 heavy equipment operator classification rates ranging from $25.14 to $47.18 per hour before fringe benefits. The rate that applies depends on the county, the type of construction and the wage determination incorporated into the contract.

How many counties in District of Columbia have a published heavy equipment operator rate?

1 of the counties covered by active federal determinations list at least one heavy equipment operator classification.

Do these rates apply to state-funded projects?

No. These are federal Davis-Bacon rates, which apply to federally funded or assisted construction. District of Columbia may set its own prevailing wage rates for state and locally funded work; the state law summary is on the District of Columbia prevailing wage page.

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Heavy Equipment Operator prevailing wage rates in District of Columbia

Federal Davis-Bacon rates published in 1 active determination, 2026

Active federal Davis-Bacon determinations for District of Columbia publish 18 heavy equipment operator classification rates, across 1 determination covering 1 county.
Those published base rates run from $25.14 to $47.18 an hour before fringe benefits. Which one applies to a job depends on its county, its construction type and the determination written into the contract.
Construction types covered: Heavy, Highway.
Last determination revision affecting heavy equipment operator rates in District of Columbia: 2026-08-27.

The official source: binding Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act wage determinations are published by the U.S. Department of Labor at SAM.gov Wage Determinations. This site indexes them and links every determination to its official document - the determination incorporated into a contract governs.

This page collects every classification in District of Columbia's active federal determinations that is a form of heavy equipment operator work (cranes, excavators, dozers, loaders and other power equipment) and shows the rate published for it. Determinations name a classification the way the underlying union agreement or wage survey named it, so the wording varies between them; the rate and the fringe are reproduced exactly as published.

Published rates by determination

DC20260001 rev 6 · Heavy, Highway · Washington, D.C.

Classification as published	Base rate	Fringes	Rate schedule
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 1 - TOWER CRANES AND CRANES 100 TON AND OVER. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEARS DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, DECORATION DAY, INDEPEN	$45.76	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 2 - 35 TON CRANES & ABOVE, DERRICKS, CONCRETE BOOM PUMP, DRILL RIGS (+50,000 LBS TORQUE), MOLE, MECHANIC. (PAID HOL	$43.44	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 3 - CRANES, HOISTS, DRILL RIGS (UNDER 50,000 LBS TORQUE), TIE BACK MACHINES, PAVING MIXERS, TUNNEL SHOVELS, BATCH P	$40.73	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 4 - FRONT END LOADERS, BOOM TRUCKS, BACKHOES, EXCAVATORS, GRADALLS, POWER DRIVEN WHEEL SCOOPS & SCRAPERS, BLADE GRA	$36.31	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 5 - BOILERS (SKELTON), ASPHALT SPREADERS, BULLFLOAT FINISHING MACHINES, CONCRETE FINISHING MACHINES, CONCRETE SPREA	$31.09	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 6 - FORK LIFTS, DITCH WITCH, BOBCAT, SKID STEER, SPACE HEATERS, SWEEPERS, ASSISTANT ENGINEERS, OILERS, SERVICE UNIT	$28.39	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 7 - MASTER MECHANIC. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEARS DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, DECORATION DAY, INDEPENDENCE DAY, LABOR DAY, MAR	$47.18	13.27	ENGI0077-001 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, PAVING AND INCIDENTAL GRADING: GROUP 1 - GRADALL OPERATOR, CRANE	$37.07	11.17	ENGI0077-002 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, PAVING AND INCIDENTAL GRADING: GROUP 2 - BOOM TRUCK, MILLING MACHINE, EXCAVATOR, RUBBER TIRE BACKHOE, ASPHALT PAVER, ASPHALT PLANT ENGINEER, MOTOR GRADER	$32.89	11.17	ENGI0077-002 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, PAVING AND INCIDENTAL GRADING: GROUP 3 - BROOM TRUCK, ASPHALT ROLLER	$28.09	11.17	ENGI0077-002 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, PAVING AND INCIDENTAL GRADING: GROUP 4 - AIR COMPRESSOR, GRADE ROLLERS	$25.14	11.17	ENGI0077-002 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, PAVING AND INCIDENTAL GRADING: GROUP 5 - MECHANIC	$37.93	10.97	ENGI0077-002 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 1 - CRANES 50 TON AND ABOVE. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, MEMORIAL	$41.40	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 2 - CRANES UNDER 50 TON CAPACITY, BOOM TRUCKS. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, WASHINGTON'S	$35.00	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 3 - GRADALL, LEAD MECHANIC. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, MEMORIAL	$33.80	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 4 - EXCAVATORS, BACKHOES, FRONT-END LOADERS, FORK LIFT/LULL, BULLDOZERS, MOTOR GRADERS, MECHANIC 1, HYDRAUL	$33.26	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 5 - KNUCKLE BOOM, TRENCHING MACHINE, WELL DRILLING MACHINES, CONCRETE MIXERS, ASSISTANT MECHANIC, MINI EXCA	$31.16	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SEWER, GAS AND WATER LINE CONSTRUCTION: GROUP 6 - OILER, DUMP TRUCK, SKID STEER/BOBCAT, ROLLERS. (PAID HOLIDAYS: NEW YEAR'S DAY, INAUGURAL DAY, WASHINGTO	$25.89	11.55	ENGI0077-003 collectively bargained (union) rate

Official document: DC20260001 on SAM.gov.

Where to go next

Heavy Equipment Operator rates in every state · District of Columbia prevailing wage and state law · District of Columbia determinations by county · pay calculator

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