Prevailing Wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
Prevailing wage for Back Hoe Operator roles in the U.S. is set by DOL using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data. Whether you operate as a Heavy Equipment Operator, Engineering Equipment Operator, or another alias under SOC 47-2073, DOL assigns four experience levels to the floor, and that floor shifts significantly by city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level equipment operators performing routine tasks under close supervision, typically with limited field experience. Workers at this level operate a narrow range of construction equipment and follow established procedures with little independent judgment.
Level 2 applies to qualified operators with moderate field experience who work with some independence. This is the most common LCA filing level for heavy equipment operators, covering roles requiring proficiency on standard construction equipment such as bulldozers, graders, or loaders.
Level 3 covers experienced operators who handle complex excavation, grading, or structural work across multiple equipment types with minimal supervision. Workers at this level often mentor junior crew members and manage equipment on larger or more demanding job sites.
Level 4 applies to fully competent operators in senior or lead roles, typically overseeing multi-equipment operations, making independent judgment calls on grading and excavation sequences, and taking responsibility for project-critical machine work on major construction or infrastructure projects.
Prevailing Wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Back Hoe Operator and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your LCA lists the actual worksite county
For construction equipment operators, the LCA worksite address must match where the machine is physically operated. A project in San Jose versus a nearby rural county can mean a wage floor difference exceeding the L2 national median, so verify the county on the certified LCA before accepting an offer.
Watch for signing-bonus amortization in construction offers
Some contractors structure compensation with large upfront signing bonuses spread across the contract term. DOL requires the prevailing wage to be met through regular pay alone; bonuses that reduce the effective hourly rate below the floor can trigger a wage compliance violation on your LCA.
Check whether your title aliases a lower-wage SOC
Titles like Forklift Operator or Equipment Operator are sometimes filed under material-moving SOC codes that carry lower prevailing wage floors than SOC 47-2073. If your duties involve construction grading or excavation, confirm your employer filed the LCA under the correct construction equipment operator code.
Search sponsor history for heavy equipment roles on Migrate Mate
Contractors who sponsor Operating Engineers are less common than those sponsoring tech workers. Migrate Mate shows which specific employers have sponsored heavy equipment operator roles before, letting you target companies with an active sponsorship track record rather than starting cold with contractors unfamiliar with the LCA process.
Jobs for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for Back Hoe OperatorPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 47-2073.00 alongside Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Back Hoe Operator Prevailing Wage
Back Hoe Operator Prevailing Wage
Back Hoe Operator positions fall under SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Engineering Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
Engineering Equipment Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Engineering Equipment Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Equipment Operator (EO) Prevailing Wage
Equipment Operator (EO) Prevailing Wage
Equipment Operator (EO) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Forklift Operator Prevailing Wage
Forklift Operator Prevailing Wage
Forklift Operator positions fall under SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Prevailing Wage
Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Hot Mix Asphalt Operator Prevailing Wage
Hot Mix Asphalt Operator Prevailing Wage
Hot Mix Asphalt Operator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator Prevailing Wage
Machine Operator positions fall under SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Motor Grader Operator Prevailing Wage
Motor Grader Operator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Motor Grader Operator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Operating Engineer Prevailing Wage
Operating Engineer Prevailing Wage
Operating Engineer is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Track Hoe Operator Prevailing Wage
Track Hoe Operator Prevailing Wage
Track Hoe Operator positions fall under SOC 47-2073.00 (Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Back Hoe Operator roles?
DOL calculates prevailing wages for heavy equipment operators using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. For SOC 47-2073, OFLC maps each area's wage distribution into four levels. Employers filing an LCA must pay at least the level matching the position's experience requirements for the specific worksite location.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision; Level 2 is qualified and moderately independent; Level 3 is experienced with broad equipment proficiency; Level 4 is fully competent in senior or lead scope. Your level is determined by the duties, supervision, and complexity described in the job offer, not your personal experience alone. Review the LCA your employer submits to USCIS and confirm the level matches your actual responsibilities.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same Equipment Operator role vary so much between cities?
OFLC sets wages using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys, so each metropolitan area has its own wage floor reflecting local labor market conditions. Construction markets in San Jose or San Francisco carry union-influenced rates and high project density, driving floors well above the national median. Puerto Rico metros sit at the low end of the national range for the same reason. The LCA worksite rule means the location physically listed on the LCA controls which floor applies, regardless of where the employer's headquarters is located.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with a wage below the applicable prevailing wage floor for the worksite and level. If an offer is structured below the floor, OFLC will not certify the LCA, blocking any H-1B or PERM filing. If a wage violation is discovered after filing, DOL can require back pay and bar the employer from future sponsorships. You should confirm the offered wage meets or exceeds the prevailing wage before relying on an employer's sponsorship timeline.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for an Operating Engineers position in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up SOC 47-2073 wages by metropolitan area and experience level. Select the area matching your worksite, not your employer's office, then compare the result against the wage in your offer letter. For confirmed visa sponsors with heavy equipment operator hiring history, Migrate Mate filters by role and location so you can identify which employers have actively sponsored this occupation in your target market.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators right now.
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