Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,160 or more. The middle half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Chicago earn between $78,580 and $117,350.
- $58K10th
- $79K25th
- $103KMedian
- $117K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,370 | $8,031 | $46.33 |
| Median | $103,100 | $8,592 | $49.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,580 | $6,548 | $37.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,350 | $9,779 | $56.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,370, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $71,997 a year, or $6,000 a month and $2,769 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 | $73,765 | $6,147 |
| Working in IL | $71,997 | $6,000 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for operating engineers and other construction 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 $96,370 buys what about $93,026 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.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$96,370
- Decatur$91,810
- Kankakee$90,890
- Rockford$89,540
- Bloomington$88,190
- Champaign$85,380
- Springfield$83,790
- Peoria$79,120
All Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($111,400).
- San Jose, CA$111,400
- San Francisco, CA$110,300
- Kahului, HI$106,970
- Honolulu, HI$104,010
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,710
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make an hour in Chicago?
$46.33 an hour on average, and $49.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level operating engineers and other construction equipment operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $58,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the operating engineers and other construction equipment operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $71,997 a year ($6,000 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,370.
Do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 42% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($67,884).
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 47-2073; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 0.57, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.57).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.