Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,910 or more. The middle half of rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Chicago earn between $58,920 and $78,910.
- $51K10th
- $59K25th
- $60KMedian
- $79K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $66,750 | $5,562 | $32.09 |
| Median | $60,120 | $5,010 | $28.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,920 | $4,910 | $28.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $78,910 | $6,576 | $37.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators in Chicago earn 16% less than the Illinois average ($79,340) and about the same as the U.S. average ($68,740). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $70,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $66,750 | $60,120 | $51,320 | $78,910 | 220 |
| Illinois | $79,340 | $78,910 | $51,500 | $92,500 | 1,190 |
| United States | $68,740 | $70,070 | $45,640 | $87,420 | 19,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $66,750, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $52,626 a year, or $4,385 a month and $2,024 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 | $53,816 | $4,485 |
| Working in IL | $52,626 | $4,385 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for rail-track laying and maintenance 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 $66,750 buys what about $64,434 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Minneapolis, MN$56,090
- Pittsburgh, PA$65,440
- Baltimore, MD$77,450
- Philadelphia, PA$60,840
- New York, NY$80,270
- Longview, TX$53,280
Highest-paying cities for rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($80,270).
- New York, NY$80,270
- Boston, MA$79,620
- Baltimore, MD$77,450
- Los Angeles, CA$76,850
- Riverside, CA$68,710
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators make an hour in Chicago?
$32.09 an hour on average, and $28.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $52,626 a year ($4,385 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $66,750.
Do rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($68,740).
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 47-4061; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.