Pulling the rate table…
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR leads the heavy schedule for Nicholas County, KY at $41.55 base plus $9.50 fringe. The active federal wage determination covering heavy construction in Nicholas County, KY lists 14 classifications with published rates, base pay from $18.31 to $41.55 per hour. The determination was last modified May 18, 2026.
| Classification | Base | Fringe | WD |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEMENT MASON/CONCRETE FINISHER | $21.51 | $10.00 | KY20260059 |
| ELECTRICIAN | $32.35 | $2.18 | KY20260059 |
| IRONWORKER(PROJECTS UNDER $20,000,000.00) | $35.63 | $26.49 | KY20260059 |
| IRONWORKER(PROJECTS OVER $20,000,000.00) | $37.47 | $26.49 | KY20260059 |
The highest published base on this schedule belongs to POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR at $41.55 per hour plus $9.50 fringe; the schedule's median base is $29.38.
The most recent modification to the governing determination is dated May 18, 2026. DOL's weekly publication cycle means further modifications can post on any Friday.
This schedule mixes sources: 57% of lines carry union identifiers and the rest are survey-based. Two crews on one site can be governed by rates that update on entirely different rhythms.
A wage determination is cited as number plus modification, for example KY20260059 Mod dated May 18, 2026. Your certified payroll should reflect the determination in your contract, not necessarily the newest one.
Save the full determination text with your bid papers the day you price the job. If rates change later, the contract determination is your record of what you bid against.
DOL publishes modifications weekly, generally Fridays. A quick check before running payroll catches a mid-project modification before it shows up in an agency review instead.
The classification that applies is determined by the work performed, not the worker's title. A foreman who works with the tools is generally due the rate for the hours on the tools.
You can meet the fringe obligation with bona fide benefit plan contributions, cash, or a combination. Track the hourly equivalent of what you contribute; agencies ask for the math.
The signed Statement of Compliance may be the WH-347 back page or another document with identical wording. The signature is a federal certification by your company's officer; accuracy is on the certifier.
Synced from SAM.gov July 18, 2026. The wage determination incorporated into your contract is the legally operative document.
| LABORERBACKFILLER, CARPENTER TENDER, COMMON OR GENERAL, CONCRETE WORKER, DUMPMAN & GRADE CHECKER | $26.87 | $19.66 | KY20260059 |
| LABORERCONCRETE SAW (HAND HELD/WALK BEHIND), PIPELAYERS & VIBRATING PLATE | $27.12 | $19.66 | KY20260059 |
| LABORERFORM WORKER | $28.80 | $18.77 | KY20260059 |
| LABORERFLAGGER | $18.31 | $8.89 | KY20260059 |
| OPERATORLOADER | $25.35 | $13.00 | KY20260059 |
| OPERATORBACKHOE/EXCAVATOR/TRACKHOE | $26.42 | $12.70 | KY20260059 |
| OPERATORBULLDOZER | $29.96 | $13.00 | KY20260059 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORGROUP 1 CRANE; DRILL; GRADER/BLADE; MECHANIC; SCRAPER OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 1 | $41.55 | $9.50 | KY20260059 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATORGROUP 2 BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER; FORKLIFT OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER (INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABO | $38.69 | $9.50 | KY20260059 |
| POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR GROUP 4 OILER OPERATORS ON CRANES WITH BOOMS 150 FEET AND OVER(INCLUDING JIB) SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE GROUP 1 RATE; 250 FEET AND OVER INCLUDING JIB SHALL RECEIVE $1.50 ABOVE CLASS 1 RATE. COMBINATION RATE: ALL CRANE OPERATORS OPERATING CRANES, WHERE THE LENGTH OF THE BOOM IN COMBINATION WITH THE LENGTH OF THE PILING LEADS EQUAL OR EXCEEDS 150 FEET, SHALL RECEIVE $1.00 ABOVE THE GROUP 1 RATE. EMPLOYEES ASSIGNED TO WORK BELOW GROUND LEVEL ARE TO BE PAID 10% ABOVE BASIC WAGE RATE. THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO OPEN CUT WORK | $38.37 | $9.50 | KY20260059 |
* changed in the most recent modification. Survey-based (SU) identifiers are non-union survey rates. Amounts tagged per day or per shift are published that way in the source determination and are not hourly wages; they are excluded from the hourly figures above.