Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$49,770
- 25th Percentile — Junior$69,230
- 50th Percentile — Median$97,740
- 75th Percentile — Senior$109,320
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$123,330
Half of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Illinois earn more than $97,740. The top 10% make $123,330 or more, while entry-level workers start around $49,770.
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 5th of 51 states for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay, at $90,500 per year (36.5% above the U.S. average of $66,290).
- 12,290 people work as Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Illinois — 2.6% of all U.S. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs.
- Location quotient 0.66: Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $49,770; the top 10% earn over $123,330.
- Hourly equivalent: $43.51 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Hawaii at $102,020.
- Among construction jobs in Illinois, First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades pays the most ($103,450).
Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators here earn $90,500 on average, placing the state 5th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $90,500 is roughly equivalent to $86,190 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Hawaii ($102,020), California ($94,000), New Jersey ($93,270) are the closest alternatives for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Construction Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades $103,450/yr Illinois +14.3% vs this role
- Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers $103,190/yr Illinois +14.0% vs this role
- Structural Iron and Steel Workers $98,680/yr Illinois +9.0% vs this role
- Plumbers Pipefitters and Steamfitters $93,400/yr Illinois +3.2% vs this role
- Electricians $92,230/yr Illinois +1.9% vs this role
- Plasterers and Stucco Masons $89,440/yr Illinois 1.2% vs this role
- Brickmasons and Blockmasons $84,830/yr Illinois 6.3% vs this role
- Sheet Metal Workers $81,960/yr Illinois 9.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Illinois?
The average Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators salary in Illinois is $90,500 per year (median $97,740), which is 36.5% above the national average of $66,290.
How does Illinois rank for Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators pay?
Illinois ranks 5th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Hawaii ($102,020/yr).
How much do entry-level Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators in Illinois earn about $49,770 per year and the 25th percentile is $69,230.
How much do Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators make per hour in Illinois?
About $43.51 per hour, based on the $90,500 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators work in Illinois?
BLS counts 12,290 Operating Engineers and Equipment Operators jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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