Operating Engineer Prevailing Wage Rates in Minnesota (2026)
Operating Engineers on prevailing wage projects in Minnesota are paid $44.24 to $74.45 per hour, with a median total of $50.80 across the 50 determination records listed below. That total is base rate plus fringe benefits; the median base rate is $34.85, and among the 50 records listing a fringe separately the median fringe is $15.95. Rates differ by county, construction type and funding source, so use the row that matches your project.
Lowest listed$44.24per hour, total
Median listed$50.80 median base $34.85 · median fringe $15.95
Highest listed$74.45per hour, total
Records shown50 across 8 counties
Figures above are computed over the 50 hourly records in the table below, which is the first page of a larger set. They are not a statewide average of all operating engineers in Minnesota. Most recent determination in this set: May 18, 2026.
How much do operating engineers earn on prevailing wage jobs in Minnesota?
Every row below is one wage determination line: a operating engineer classification, in one county, for one construction type, under one funding source. The rate that applies to your project is the row whose county, construction type and funding source all match it — a Highway rate does not apply to a Building project in the same county, and a state determination does not substitute for a federal one.
| Classification | County | Construction type | Funding | Base | Fringe | Total |
|---|
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 1 Helicopter Operator; Truck & Crawler Crane With 200' of Boom & Over, Including Jib ($.50 Premium With 300' of Boom & Over, Including Jib); & Tower Crane 250' & Over | Cook | Residential | #federal | $49.25 | $25.20 | $74.45 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Truck & Crawler Crane With 150' of Boom, Up to but Not Including 200' of Boom, Including Jib; & Tower Crane 200' & Over, Concrete Pump 164 Ft Boom | Cook | Residential | #federal | $48.88 | $25.20 | $74.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 3 Traveling Tower Crane; Master Mechanic; Pile Driving Operator (When 3 Drums Are Used); Truck & Crawler Crane, Up to but Not Including 150' of Boom, Including Jib; Derrick (Guy & Stiffleg); Tower Crane (Stationary)Up to 200'; & Allterrain Vehicle Crane, Boom Truck Over 100 Ft | Cook | Residential | #federal | $47.35 | $25.20 | $72.55 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Crawler Backhoe; Hoist Engineer (3 Drums or More); Locomotive Operator; Overhead Crane Operator (Inside Building Perimeter); & Tractor Operator With Boom | Cook | Residential | #federal | $46.99 | $25.20 | $72.19 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Air Compressor Operator 450 Cfm or Over (2 or More Machines); Pump Operator and/or Conveyor Operator (2 or More Machines); Mechanic; Pumpcrete or Complaco Type Machine Operator; Forklift; Boom Truck Up to 100 Ft.; Concrete Mixer Operator; Drill Rig - Heavy Rotary or Churn When Used for Caisson Drilling for Elevator Cylinder or Building Construction; Front End Loader (Over 1 Cu. Yd.); Hoist Engineer (1 or 2 Drums); Straddle Carrier Operator; Power Plant Engineer (100 Kw & Over on Multiples Equal to 100kw & Over); Tractor Operator Over D2; & Well Point Pump Operator | Cook | Residential | #federal | $44.91 | $25.20 | $70.11 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Concrete Batch Plant Operator; Gunite Operator; Tractor Operator D2 or Similar Size; & Front End Loader Operator, Up to 1 Cu. Yd | Cook | Residential | #federal | $43.28 | $25.20 | $68.48 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 7 Air Compressor Operator 600 Cfm or Over; Pump and/or Conveyor Operator; Brakeman; Pick-up Sweeper (1 Cu. Yd. & Over Hopper Capacity); Truck Crane Oiler; & Welding Machine Operator, Fireman Temporary Heat | Cook | Residential | #federal | $42.06 | $25.20 | $67.26 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Mechanical Space Heater (Temporary Heat); Oiler or Greaser; & Elevator Operator | Cook | Residential | #federal | $39.88 | $25.20 | $65.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 1 Helicopter Operator; Truck & Crawler Crane With 200' of Boom & Over, Including Jib ($.50 Premium With 300' of Boom & Over, Including Jib); & Tower Crane 250' & Over | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $49.25 | $25.20 | $74.45 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Truck & Crawler Crane With 150' of Boom, Up to but Not Including 200' of Boom, Including Jib; & Tower Crane 200' & Over, Concrete Pump 164 Ft Boom | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $48.88 | $25.20 | $74.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 3 Traveling Tower Crane; Master Mechanic; Pile Driving Operator (When 3 Drums Are Used); Truck & Crawler Crane, Up to but Not Including 150' of Boom, Including Jib; Derrick (Guy & Stiffleg); Tower Crane (Stationary)Up to 200'; & Allterrain Vehicle Crane, Boom Truck Over 100 Ft | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $47.35 | $25.20 | $72.55 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Crawler Backhoe; Hoist Engineer (3 Drums or More); Locomotive Operator; Overhead Crane Operator (Inside Building Perimeter); & Tractor Operator With Boom | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $46.99 | $25.20 | $72.19 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Air Compressor Operator 450 Cfm or Over (2 or More Machines); Pump Operator and/or Conveyor Operator (2 or More Machines); Mechanic; Pumpcrete or Complaco Type Machine Operator; Forklift; Boom Truck Up to 100 Ft.; Concrete Mixer Operator; Drill Rig - Heavy Rotary or Churn When Used for Caisson Drilling for Elevator Cylinder or Building Construction; Front End Loader (Over 1 Cu. Yd.); Hoist Engineer (1 or 2 Drums); Straddle Carrier Operator; Power Plant Engineer (100 Kw & Over on Multiples Equal to 100kw & Over); Tractor Operator Over D2; & Well Point Pump Operator | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $44.91 | $25.20 | $70.11 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Concrete Batch Plant Operator; Gunite Operator; Tractor Operator D2 or Similar Size; & Front End Loader Operator, Up to 1 Cu. Yd | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $43.28 | $25.20 | $68.48 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 7 Air Compressor Operator 600 Cfm or Over; Pump and/or Conveyor Operator; Brakeman; Pick-up Sweeper (1 Cu. Yd. & Over Hopper Capacity); Truck Crane Oiler; & Welding Machine Operator, Fireman Temporary Heat | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $42.06 | $25.20 | $67.26 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Mechanical Space Heater (Temporary Heat); Oiler or Greaser; & Elevator Operator | Koochiching | Residential | #federal | $39.88 | $25.20 | $65.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 1 Helicopter Operator; Truck & Crawler Crane With 200' of Boom & Over, Including Jib ($.50 Premium With 300' of Boom & Over, Including Jib); & Tower Crane 250' & Over | Lake | Residential | #federal | $49.25 | $25.20 | $74.45 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Truck & Crawler Crane With 150' of Boom, Up to but Not Including 200' of Boom, Including Jib; & Tower Crane 200' & Over, Concrete Pump 164 Ft Boom | Lake | Residential | #federal | $48.88 | $25.20 | $74.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 3 Traveling Tower Crane; Master Mechanic; Pile Driving Operator (When 3 Drums Are Used); Truck & Crawler Crane, Up to but Not Including 150' of Boom, Including Jib; Derrick (Guy & Stiffleg); Tower Crane (Stationary)Up to 200'; & Allterrain Vehicle Crane, Boom Truck Over 100 Ft | Lake | Residential | #federal | $47.35 | $25.20 | $72.55 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Crawler Backhoe; Hoist Engineer (3 Drums or More); Locomotive Operator; Overhead Crane Operator (Inside Building Perimeter); & Tractor Operator With Boom | Lake | Residential | #federal | $46.99 | $25.20 | $72.19 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Air Compressor Operator 450 Cfm or Over (2 or More Machines); Pump Operator and/or Conveyor Operator (2 or More Machines); Mechanic; Pumpcrete or Complaco Type Machine Operator; Forklift; Boom Truck Up to 100 Ft.; Concrete Mixer Operator; Drill Rig - Heavy Rotary or Churn When Used for Caisson Drilling for Elevator Cylinder or Building Construction; Front End Loader (Over 1 Cu. Yd.); Hoist Engineer (1 or 2 Drums); Straddle Carrier Operator; Power Plant Engineer (100 Kw & Over on Multiples Equal to 100kw & Over); Tractor Operator Over D2; & Well Point Pump Operator | Lake | Residential | #federal | $44.91 | $25.20 | $70.11 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Concrete Batch Plant Operator; Gunite Operator; Tractor Operator D2 or Similar Size; & Front End Loader Operator, Up to 1 Cu. Yd | Lake | Residential | #federal | $43.28 | $25.20 | $68.48 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 7 Air Compressor Operator 600 Cfm or Over; Pump and/or Conveyor Operator; Brakeman; Pick-up Sweeper (1 Cu. Yd. & Over Hopper Capacity); Truck Crane Oiler; & Welding Machine Operator, Fireman Temporary Heat | Lake | Residential | #federal | $42.06 | $25.20 | $67.26 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Mechanical Space Heater (Temporary Heat); Oiler or Greaser; & Elevator Operator | Lake | Residential | #federal | $39.88 | $25.20 | $65.08 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Grader/Blade | Dodge | Residential | #federal | $34.85 | $15.95 | $50.80 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Backhoe | Dodge | Residential | #federal | $33.10 | $15.95 | $49.05 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Bulldozer, Curb Machine, Forklift, Loader Over 1 Cu Yd, Mechanic, Roller, Scraper, Tractor Over D2 | Dodge | Residential | #federal | $32.93 | $15.95 | $48.88 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Loader Up to 1 Cu Yd, Tractor D2 or Similar Size | Dodge | Residential | #federal | $31.42 | $15.95 | $47.37 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Oiler | Dodge | Residential | #federal | $28.29 | $15.95 | $44.24 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Grader/Blade | Olmsted | Residential | #federal | $34.85 | $15.95 | $50.80 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Backhoe | Olmsted | Residential | #federal | $33.10 | $15.95 | $49.05 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Bulldozer, Curb Machine, Forklift, Loader Over 1 Cu Yd, Mechanic, Roller, Scraper, Tractor Over D2 | Olmsted | Residential | #federal | $32.93 | $15.95 | $48.88 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Loader Up to 1 Cu Yd, Tractor D2 or Similar Size | Olmsted | Residential | #federal | $31.42 | $15.95 | $47.37 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Oiler | Olmsted | Residential | #federal | $28.29 | $15.95 | $44.24 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Grader/Blade | Wabasha | Residential | #federal | $34.85 | $15.95 | $50.80 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Backhoe | Wabasha | Residential | #federal | $33.10 | $15.95 | $49.05 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Bulldozer, Curb Machine, Forklift, Loader Over 1 Cu Yd, Mechanic, Roller, Scraper, Tractor Over D2 | Wabasha | Residential | #federal | $32.93 | $15.95 | $48.88 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Loader Up to 1 Cu Yd, Tractor D2 or Similar Size | Wabasha | Residential | #federal | $31.42 | $15.95 | $47.37 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Oiler | Wabasha | Residential | #federal | $28.29 | $15.95 | $44.24 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Grader/Blade | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $34.85 | $15.95 | $50.80 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 3 Dragline | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $33.44 | $15.95 | $49.39 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Backhoe | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $33.10 | $15.95 | $49.05 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Bulldozer, Curb Machine, Forklift, Loader Over 1 Cu Yd, Mechanic, Roller, Scraper, Tractor Over D2 | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $32.93 | $15.95 | $48.88 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Loader Up to 1 Cu Yd, Tractor D2 or Similar Size | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $31.42 | $15.95 | $47.37 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 8 Oiler | Chisago | Residential | #federal | $28.29 | $15.95 | $44.24 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 2 Grader/Blade | Isanti | Residential | #federal | $34.85 | $15.95 | $50.80 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 3 Dragline | Isanti | Residential | #federal | $33.44 | $15.95 | $49.39 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 4 Backhoe | Isanti | Residential | #federal | $33.10 | $15.95 | $49.05 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 5 Bulldozer, Curb Machine, Forklift, Loader Over 1 Cu Yd, Mechanic, Roller, Scraper, Tractor Over D2 | Isanti | Residential | #federal | $32.93 | $15.95 | $48.88 |
| Operator: Power Equipment Group 6 Loader Up to 1 Cu Yd, Tractor D2 or Similar Size | Isanti | Residential | #federal | $31.42 | $15.95 | $47.37 |
WageFinder holds more operating engineer records for Minnesota than fit on this page. Open a county below, or search all Minnesota operating engineers.
What does the operating engineer classification cover?
Operating engineers run the powered equipment on a project — excavators, dozers, cranes, loaders, graders, rollers and forklifts. This is the classification most likely to be broken into a long list of equipment-specific rates and grouped into skill tiers, so the applicable rate depends on the exact machine, not on the job title.
Work typically covered
- Excavators and backhoes
- Cranes and lifting equipment
- Dozers, loaders and graders
- Rollers and compactors
- Forklifts and material handlers
Also listed as
- Power Equipment Operator
- Operator: Bulldozer
- Operator: Crane
- Heavy Equipment Operator
In this Minnesota result set the work appears under 14 distinct classification names.
Operating Engineer rates by county in Minnesota
Prevailing wage is set county by county. These are the Minnesota counties with operating engineer records in the set above — open one to see every classification on that county's determination, not just this trade.
See all Minnesota counties →
Other trades in Minnesota
Operating Engineer prevailing wage questions
What is the prevailing wage for a operating engineer in Minnesota?
Across the 50 federal-funded determination records WageFinder lists for operating engineers in Minnesota, total prevailing wage runs from $44.24 to $74.45 per hour, median $50.80. There is no single statewide figure: each county's determination sets its own rate, and the same county can carry different rates for Building, Highway, Heavy and Residential work.
Does the operating engineer rate include benefits?
The total prevailing wage shown is the base hourly rate plus the fringe benefit rate. Of the 50 Minnesota records on this page, 50 list a fringe amount separately, with a median of $15.95 per hour — roughly 31% of the median total. The rest list no separate fringe, meaning the base rate is the whole obligation. Fringe can be paid as bona fide benefit plan contributions, as cash added to the paycheck, or as a mix of both.
Which Minnesota counties have operating engineer rates?
This page lists operating engineer records for 8 counties in Minnesota: Chisago, Cook, Dodge, Isanti, Koochiching, Lake, Olmsted, Wabasha. Determinations that apply statewide appear under a statewide entry rather than a named county.
How current are these Minnesota operating engineer rates?
The most recent determination in this set is dated May 18, 2026. WageFinder re-reads the official sources weekly, but the date that matters for compliance is the determination date on the document itself, which is shown on every wage detail page and links back to the government source.
