Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $103,100 a year ($49.57 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,160 for the top 10%. That is 72% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 5% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $97,740. There are 1.8 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $96,370, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,060 | $27.92 |
| 25th percentile | $78,580 | $37.78 |
| Median | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| 75th percentile | $117,350 | $56.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,160 | $59.69 |
| Average (mean) | $96,370 | $46.33 |
Half of operating engineers and other construction 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 | $8,591.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,295.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,965.38 |
| Weekly | $1,982.69 |
| Hourly | $49.57 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $103,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $100,520 | 100 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $98,120 | 170 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 | 210 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,270 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,900 | 160 |
| Peoria, IL | $86,440 | 330 |
| Evansville, IN | $84,500 | 510 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $83,460 | 340 |
| Kokomo, IN | $82,270 | 100 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $82,270 | 4,190 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $82,190 | 3,700 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $80,460 | 360 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $77,450 | 650 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $66,950 | 3,120 |
| Columbus, IN | $64,970 | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,850 | 570 |
| Bloomington, IN | $62,120 | 230 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,890 | 1,920 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $61,710 | 290 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $61,630 | 230 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,480 | 130 |
| Muncie, IN | $59,910 | 80 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,000 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Glazier | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| Insulation Workers, Mechanical | $103,690 | $49.85 |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | $80,340 | $38.63 |
More: Construction and Extraction 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 47-2073. 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $103,100 a year, or $49.57 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,060 for the lowest-paid 10% to $124,160 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $124,160 a year. The top 25% earn $117,350 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,060 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $78,580 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 7,930 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.