Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Plant and System Operators, All Other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $80,660 a year ($38.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,320 for the top 10%. That is 29% higher than the national median of $62,470. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $77,780. There are 0.04 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.39). The average (mean) salary is $79,240, close to the median.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,600 | $35.39 |
| 25th percentile | $79,540 | $38.24 |
| Median | $80,660 | $38.78 |
| 75th percentile | $84,320 | $40.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,320 | $40.54 |
| Average (mean) | $79,240 | $38.09 |
Half of plant and system operators, all other 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 | $6,721.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,360.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,102.31 |
| Weekly | $1,551.15 |
| Hourly | $38.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $80,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $72,780 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $71,800 | 30 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $69,910 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $67,390 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for plant and system operators, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $120,660 |
| Washington | $88,730 |
| Minnesota | $88,290 |
| Maryland | $81,890 |
| Montana | $81,340 |
| Nevada | $80,000 |
| California | $78,020 |
| Illinois | $77,780 |
| Iowa | $75,800 |
| New York | $74,700 |
See Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $79,290 | $38.12 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $115,780 | $55.66 |
| Power Plant Operator | $123,540 | $59.40 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $102,810 | $49.43 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
More: Production 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 51-8099. 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 plant and system operators, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,660 a year, or $38.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid plant and system operators, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $84,320 a year. The top 25% earn $84,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,600 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $79,540 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 160 plant and system operators, all other are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.