Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Illinois
Plant and System Operators, All Other in Illinois earn a median of $77,780 a year ($37.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 230 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,080 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84,320 for the top 10%. That is 25% higher than the national median of $62,470. Illinois ranks 8th of 44 states for plant and system operators, all other pay. There are 0.04 plant and system operators, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.41). The average (mean) salary is $76,620, close to the median.
Pay range for plant and system operators, all other in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,080 | $26.48 |
| 25th percentile | $74,400 | $35.77 |
| Median | $77,780 | $37.39 |
| 75th percentile | $84,220 | $40.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84,320 | $40.54 |
| Average (mean) | $76,620 | $36.84 |
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 | $6,481.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,240.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,991.54 |
| Weekly | $1,495.77 |
| Hourly | $37.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,780 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 cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $80,660 | 160 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $69,910 | 90 |
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.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $67,810 | $32.60 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $115,780 | $55.66 |
| Power Plant Operator | $104,440 | $50.21 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $102,890 | $49.47 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $97,810 | $47.03 |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operator | $123,980 | $59.60 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,470 | $48.79 |
| Chemical Plant and System Operators | $65,710 | $31.59 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $44,140 | $21.22 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,200 | $36.16 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,150 | $20.75 |
| Machinist | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $51,320 | $24.67 |
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 Illinois?
The median salary for plant and system operators, all other in Illinois is $77,780 a year, or $37.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,080 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 Illinois?
The top 10% of plant and system operators, all other in Illinois earn at least $84,320 a year. The top 25% earn $84,220 or more.
What is the starting pay for plant and system operators, all other in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,080 a year, and a quarter of plant and system operators, all other earn $74,400 or less.
How many plant and system operators, all other work in Illinois?
About 230 plant and system operators, all other are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.