Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in Illinois
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Illinois earn a median of $78,910 a year ($37.94 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $51,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,500 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $70,070. Illinois ranks 9th of 39 states for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators pay. There are 0.20 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $79,340, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,500 | $24.76 |
| 25th percentile | $63,010 | $30.29 |
| Median | $78,910 | $37.94 |
| 75th percentile | $83,740 | $40.26 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,500 | $44.47 |
| Average (mean) | $79,340 | $38.14 |
Half of Rail-Track laying and maintenance 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 | $6,575.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,287.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,035 |
| Weekly | $1,517.50 |
| Hourly | $37.94 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $78,910 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $60,120 | 220 |
Highest-paying states for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $94,330 |
| Maryland | $92,030 |
| New York | $87,150 |
| Virginia | $84,750 |
| New Mexico | $83,370 |
| Delaware | $80,610 |
| Montana | $79,170 |
| Idaho | $79,020 |
| Illinois | $78,910 |
| Indiana | $78,020 |
See Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $61,700 | $29.66 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $78,340 | $37.66 |
| Hazardous Materials Removal Worker | $61,330 | $29.49 |
| Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | $53,190 | $25.57 |
| Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | $133,690 | $64.27 |
| Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers | $48,780 | $23.45 |
| Fence Erector | $50,710 | $24.38 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,690 | $29.18 |
| Electrician | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| Carpenter | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $105,750 | $50.84 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $99,950 | $48.05 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $97,740 | $46.99 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,260 | $29.45 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-4061. 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 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in Illinois?
The median salary for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Illinois is $78,910 a year, or $37.94 an hour. Pay ranges from $51,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,500 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators make in Illinois?
The top 10% of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Illinois earn at least $92,500 a year. The top 25% earn $83,740 or more.
What is the starting pay for Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $51,500 a year, and a quarter of Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn $63,010 or less.
How many Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators work in Illinois?
About 1,190 Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.