How Much Does Excavation Cost in Pend Oreille County?
Excavation costs in Pend Oreille County depend on machine size, access, rock, hauling and permits. For scale, the state's 2026 wildfire-hire rates put an excavator with an operator at roughly $1,215 to $3,248 per day by size class, and bare-machine hourly rates for a 20-ton excavator run about $155 to $205. Actual prices depend on the lot.
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Typical day rates for excavators, skid steers and backhoes
| Power class and flywheel horsepower | Per day |
|---|---|
| Class 1, over 230 hp | $3,248 |
| Class 2, 161 to 230 hp | $2,586 |
| Class 3, 136 to 160 hp | $2,166 |
| Class 4, 111 to 135 hp | $1,940 |
| Class 5, 86 to 110 hp | $1,584 |
| Class 6, 76 to 85 hp | $1,390 |
| Class 7, 61 to 75 hp | $1,303 |
| Class 8, 50 to 60 hp | $1,215 |
Sources: Washington State Wage & Equipment Rate Guide 2026, Hydraulic Excavators table. Standard method of hire includes operating supplies, the daily work rate and one operator.
| Machine | Class | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Skid steer | Class 1, 70 hp and up | $690 |
| Skid steer | Class 2, 50 to 69 hp | $470 |
| Skid steer | Class 3, 49 hp and under | $350 |
| Backhoe | Up to 75 hp | $1,731 |
| Dozer | Type 4, 50 to 110 hp | $1,741 |
| Dozer | Type 3, 99 to 165 hp | $2,042 |
| Dozer | Type 2, 150 to 250 hp | $2,820 |
| Dozer | Type 1, 240 hp and up | $3,448 |
| Boom-mounted masticator | Type 4, 60 to 80 hp | $2,600 |
| Boom-mounted masticator | Type 1, 156 hp and up | $3,825 |
Same guide, Skid Steers, Backhoes, Dozers w/Blades and Masticators tables. The guide says a Fuel Cost Adjustment is added to the normal daily rate for heavy equipment.
These day rates come from the Washington State Wage & Equipment Rate Guide 2026, effective June 1, 2026, which sets what the state pays to hire equipment for wildfire response. They show how cost scales with machine size. A private job adds moving the machine to a rural lot, hauling and anything else in the scope.
Typical hourly rates
| Source | Figure | What it says it covers | Date shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional cost report | $97.50 per hour (range $95.00 to $100.00) | Major grading or resloping; includes machine and operator | No date on page |
| Regional cost report | $99.23 per hour (range $85.79 to $112.67) | Landscape grading; includes machine rental and operator | No date on page |
| Regional rate book | $75 to $105 per hour | Mini excavator, 3 to 5 ton, bare equipment | Effective August 2026 |
| Regional rate book | $155 to $205 per hour | 20-ton class excavator, bare equipment | Effective August 2026 |
| Regional rate book | $190 to $250 per hour | 30-ton class excavator, bare equipment | Effective August 2026 |
| Regional rate book | $245 to $325 per hour | 45-ton class excavator, bare equipment | Effective August 2026 |
Ranges based on published regional pricing guides. A bare-machine rate, an operated rate and a daily rate are different things, so compare like with like.
A bare-machine rate, an operated rate and a daily rate are three different things, so a figure only means something next to a description of what it includes.
What changes an excavation price on a rural lot?
- Distance and access. Moving a machine to a lot and the condition of the road in.
- Rock and ground water. Neither shows until the ground is open, so ask how each is handled.
- Volume. Cubic yards of cut, fill or haul-off; the county's 500-cubic-yard line is also a permit line.
- Hauling and import. Trucking spoil away or fill and gravel in.
- Permits. Who applies, who pays, and how long approval takes. Ecology asks for a stormwater application at least 60 days before discharge on sites of one acre or more.
- Winter. Frozen ground slows digging.
Hourly or fixed price: which fits which job?
| Hourly (operator and machine) | Fixed price for a defined scope | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits best | Jobs where the ground is unknown, such as rock, stumps or old fill | Jobs with a clear drawing, such as a pad of known size |
| Risk sits with | The owner, if the job runs long | The excavator, if the scope was wrong |
| Ask for | The hourly rate, whether the clock runs while the machine travels, and who pays for fuel and hauling | A written scope with quantities, and what happens if rock or water shows up |
| Watch for | No cap or estimate of hours | Exclusions that make a low price look complete |
What should a written quote list?
- The work in plain words, with quantities where possible (cubic yards, linear feet, acres).
- Hourly or fixed, and the rate or total.
- What is included: fuel, hauling, fill and gravel, stump and debris handling.
- Who gives the 811 notice and who holds the ticket number.
- Which permits apply and who applies for them.
- How rock, water or unmarked utilities are handled.
- Start window and what winter does to it.
- The contractor's Washington registration number.
How do I check the contractor before accepting a quote?
Search the company on the Department of Labor & Industries Verify page and check that the registration is active. RCW 18.27.020 makes it unlawful to advertise, offer to do work or submit a bid as a contractor without being registered.
Common questions
How much does an excavator with an operator cost per day in Washington?
The state's 2026 equipment rate guide lists hydraulic excavators with an operator from $1,215 per day for the 50 to 60 horsepower class to $3,248 per day for machines over 230 horsepower. These are wildfire-hire rates, a reference point for how size moves the price.
What does a skid steer cost per day in the same guide?
$350 per day for machines of 49 horsepower and under, $470 for 50 to 69 horsepower and $690 for 70 horsepower and up, each with an operator.
Do those rates include fuel?
The guide's standard method of hire includes operating supplies, including fuel, the daily rate and one operator. For heavy equipment it also describes a Fuel Cost Adjustment that is added to the daily rate.
How do the hourly figures compare?
One regional source lists about $100 per hour with an operator for grading, while another lists $155 to $205 per hour for a bare 20-ton machine. Sources differ in what they include, so compare like with like.
Is excavation priced by the hour or by the job?
Both are used. Hourly pricing suits unknown ground; a fixed price suits a defined scope. Get the basis in writing.
Does a permit add to the cost?
It can. The county asks for a Site Evaluation Application before building or land use development, and Ecology's stormwater coverage has its own application. Settle who applies and who pays.
Why are the day rates labelled wildfire-hire?
The state's 2026 guide lists machine sizes with and without an operator, which makes it a handy reference for how rates scale with machine size. The rates are what the state pays to hire equipment on wildfire incidents, so a private job will differ.
How do I get a quote for my lot?
Use the form on the Contact page or email contact@newportexcavation.com. Include the town, the work and any quantities you know, such as driveway length or pad size.
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