Gas Plant Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,890 or more. The middle half of gas plant operators in Chicago earn between $85,530 and $112,660.
- $68K10th
- $86K25th
- $103KMedian
- $113K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,520 | $8,043 | $46.40 |
| Median | $102,810 | $8,568 | $49.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,530 | $7,128 | $41.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,660 | $9,388 | $54.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Gas Plant Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,520, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $72,095 a year, or $6,008 a month and $2,773 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 | $73,866 | $6,156 |
| Working in IL | $72,095 | $6,008 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for gas plant 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 $96,520 buys what about $93,171 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Gas Plant Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Grand Rapids, MI$100,860
- Davenport, IA$93,510
- Toledo, OH$59,830
- Detroit, MI$103,970
- Louisville, KY$77,130
- Columbus, OH$81,150
Highest-paying cities for gas plant operators
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,110).
- Los Angeles, CA$121,110
- New York, NY$115,310
- Riverside, CA$114,070
- Portland, OR$110,150
- Detroit, MI$103,970
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Gas Plant Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do gas plant operators make an hour in Chicago?
$46.40 an hour on average, and $49.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level gas plant operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the gas plant operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $72,095 a year ($6,008 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,520.
Do gas plant operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($89,876).
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 51-8092; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.65, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.65).
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