Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Agricultural Equipment Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $47,080 a year ($22.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,880 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $41,730. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $46,050. There are 0.08 agricultural equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.44). The average (mean) salary is $47,750, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for agricultural equipment operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,030 | $18.29 |
| 25th percentile | $40,140 | $19.30 |
| Median | $47,080 | $22.64 |
| 75th percentile | $50,900 | $24.47 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,880 | $28.79 |
| Average (mean) | $47,750 | $22.96 |
Half of agricultural equipment operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,923.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,961.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,810.77 |
| Weekly | $905.38 |
| Hourly | $22.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $47,080 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Agricultural Equipment Operator salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $54,380 | 50 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $52,100 | 30 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $48,330 | 40 |
| Evansville, IN | $47,500 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,280 | 150 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $47,060 | 80 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $46,840 | 140 |
| Peoria, IL | $45,610 | 80 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $45,470 | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $45,310 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IL | $45,280 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for agricultural equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Montana | $58,770 |
| Louisiana | $58,520 |
| New York | $50,020 |
| Delaware | $49,910 |
| Massachusetts | $49,150 |
| Minnesota | $48,520 |
| North Dakota | $48,080 |
| South Dakota | $48,060 |
| Virginia | $47,890 |
| Iowa | $47,220 |
See Agricultural Equipment Operator pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Agricultural Inspector | $64,790 | $31.15 |
| Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals | $33,950 | $16.32 |
| Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $58,420 | $28.09 |
More: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 45-2091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a agricultural equipment operator make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for agricultural equipment operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,080 a year, or $22.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid agricultural equipment operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of agricultural equipment operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $59,880 a year. The top 25% earn $50,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for agricultural equipment operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,030 a year, and a quarter of agricultural equipment operators earn $40,140 or less.
How many agricultural equipment operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 360 agricultural equipment operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.