Agricultural Equipment Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,030 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,880 or more. The middle half of agricultural equipment operators in Chicago earn between $40,140 and $50,900.
- $38K10th
- $40K25th
- $47KMedian
- $51K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,750 | $3,979 | $22.96 |
| Median | $47,080 | $3,923 | $22.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,140 | $3,345 | $19.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,900 | $4,242 | $24.47 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $47,750, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $38,325 a year, or $3,194 a month and $1,474 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $39,145 | $3,262 |
| Working in IL | $38,325 | $3,194 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for agricultural equipment operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $47,750 buys what about $46,093 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 4 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($48,930).
- Champaign$48,930
- Chicago$47,750
- Peoria$47,530
- Bloomington$46,900
Highest-paying cities for agricultural equipment operators
Cincinnati, OH pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($54,160).
- Cincinnati, OH$54,160
- Minneapolis, MN$53,350
- Columbus, OH$52,240
- Lafayette, IN$51,310
- Indianapolis, IN$51,290
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Agricultural Equipment Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do agricultural equipment operators make an hour in Chicago?
$22.96 an hour on average, and $22.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level agricultural equipment operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,030 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,140, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the agricultural equipment operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $38,325 a year ($3,194 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,750.
Do agricultural equipment operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($42,844).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 45-2091; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.44, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.44).
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