Which rate do I pay on MT20260069?

The line for the classification of work actually performed: the basic rate plus the fringe. You may pay the fringe into benefit plans, as cash on every hour, or a mix. Overtime after 40 hours is 1.5 times the basic rate; fringe is paid on every hour and never multiplied.

My trade is not on this sheet. What do I do?

Do not borrow the nearest name. Ask the contracting agency for a conformance on Standard Form 1444 before the first week of that work, and note it as pending on the payroll.

Does modification 1 apply to my contract?

Only if it was in force when your contract was awarded (generally at bid opening). An earlier modification locked into the contract keeps applying, except on option years, added scope and indefinite-quantity contracts. The number and modification are on the first page of the exhibit in your contract.

Prevailing wage rates · Montana · Wage determination

Prevailing wage rates: Custer County, Montana

Heavy construction · MT20260069 modification 1, published May 18, 2026

The short answer

This sheet sets 20 classifications for heavy work in Custer County, Montana. Each line is a basic hourly rate plus a fringe rate, and the sum is the minimum you must pay for that work, from $16.44 an hour (laborer: landscape and irrigation) to $62.13 (ironworker: reinforcing and structural). Your contract may lock an earlier modification.

Rates by classification

Total is the basic rate plus the fringe. Source is the agreement or survey the rate came from; a marker means the group changed in this modification. A dagger (†) means the fringe carries a footnote or percentage the total does not include; read the group’s notes.

Classification	Basic rate	Fringe	Total	Source
ELEC0532-012 · Electrical Workers (IBEW) agreement, June 1, 2025
ELECTRICIAN	$43.92	$18.17	$62.09	Agreement
ENGI0400-013 · Operating Engineers agreement, May 1, 2025
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR:, ZONE 1: (7) CRANES, 150 TONS TO INCLUDING 250 TONS (ADD $1.00 FOR EVERY 100 TONS OVER 250 TONS); CRANE, STIFF-LEG OR DERRICK; HELICOPTER HOIST; CRANE, TOWER (ALL). ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$42.23	$16.20	$58.43	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ZONE 1: (6) CRANES 75 TO AND INCL. 149 TONS; CRANES, WHIRLEY (ALL). ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$41.15	$16.20	$57.35	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ZONE 1: (5) CRANES 45 TONS TO AND INCL. 74 TONS. ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$40.07	$16.20	$56.27	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ZONE 1: (4) CRANES 25-44 TONS. ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$38.98	$16.20	$55.18	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ZONE 1: (3) MECHANIC. ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$24.34	$10.40	$34.74	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPERATOR: ZONE 1: (2) CRANE OILER, BULLDOZER, ROLLER (DIRT AND GRADE COMPACTION), BACKHOE. ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$23.94	$10.40	$34.34	Agreement
POWER EQUIPMENT OPEARTOR… Full text POWER EQUIPMENT OPEARTOR: ZONE 1: (1)A-FRAME TRUCK CRANE, OILER (EXCEPT CRANE). ZONE DEFINITIONS FOR POWER EQUPMENT OPERATORS: THE ZONE HOURLY RATES APPLICABLE TO EACH PROJECT SHALL BE DETERMINED BY MEASURING THE ROAD MILES OVER THE SHORTEST PRACTICAL MAINTAINED ROUTE FROM THE NEAREST COUNTY COURT HOUSE OF THE FOLLOWING LISTED TOWNS TO THE CENTER OF THE JOB: BILLINGS, BOZEMAN, BUTTE, GREAT FALLS, HELENA, KALISPELL, MISSOULA ZONE 1: 0 TO 30 MILES - BASE PAY ZONE 2: 30 TO 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $3.50 ZONE 3: OVER 60 MILES - BASE PAY + $5.50	$23.47	$10.40	$33.87	Agreement
IRON0732-018 · Ironworkers agreement, June 1, 2024
IRONWORKER: REINFORCING AND STRUCTURAL	$36.83	$25.30	$62.13	Agreement
SUMT2011-045 · Survey of contractors in MT, February 8, 2011
TRUCK DRIVER: DUMP TRUCK	$19.99	$5.09	$25.08	Survey
OPERATOR: SCRAPER	$23.00	$6.76	$29.76	Survey
OPERATOR: LOADER (FRONT END)	$23.02	$8.05	$31.07	Survey
OPERATOR: GRADER/BLADE	$25.44	$8.45	$33.89	Survey
OPERATOR: EXCAVATOR	$23.05	$8.05	$31.10	Survey
OPERATOR: BOBCAT/SKID STEER/SKID LOADER	$20.97	$8.05	$29.02	Survey
LABORER: LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION	$15.14	$1.30	$16.44	Survey
LABORER: PIPELAYER	$21.10	$5.28	$26.38	Survey
LABORER: COMMON OR GENERAL	$17.99	$5.90	$23.89	Survey
CARPENTER, EXCLUDES FORM WORK	$21.13	$7.00	$28.13	Survey
CARPENTER (FORM WORK ONLY)	$24.30	$7.80	$32.10	Survey

Modification history

Modification 0	January 2, 2026
Modification 1	May 18, 2026 (current)

Published by the Wage and Hour Division; read from sam.gov. The sheet is checked for a newer modification each day. Contracts awarded since January 1, 2017 also carry Executive Order 13706 paid sick leave (one hour per 30 worked, up to 56 a year).

Questions people ask

Which rate do I pay on MT20260069?: The line for the classification of work actually performed: the basic rate plus the fringe. You may pay the fringe into benefit plans, as cash on every hour, or a mix. Overtime after 40 hours is 1.5 times the basic rate; fringe is paid on every hour and never multiplied.
My trade is not on this sheet. What do I do?: Do not borrow the nearest name. Ask the contracting agency for a conformance on Standard Form 1444 before the first week of that work, and note it as pending on the payroll.
Does modification 1 apply to my contract?: Only if it was in force when your contract was awarded (generally at bid opening). An earlier modification locked into the contract keeps applying, except on option years, added scope and indefinite-quantity contracts. The number and modification are on the first page of the exhibit in your contract.

How to read a wage determination · Paying the fringe in cash or through plans · Overtime on these rates · Fringe credit calculator