How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Chicago?
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $49.57 an hour or $8,592 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.57
- Vs. national median
- +72%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 392
- Jobs in the area
- 7,930
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,060 | $27.91 | |
| 25th | $78,580 | $37.78 | |
| Median | $103,100 | $49.57 | |
| 75th | $117,400 | $56.42 | |
| 90th | $124,200 | $59.69 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for operating engineer and other construction equipment operators.
| Decatur, IL | $100,500 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,270 |
| Champaign, IL | $92,900 |
| Peoria, IL | $86,440 |
| St. Louis, MO | $82,270 |
| Davenport, IA | $64,850 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $61,480 |
| Paducah, KY | $59,000 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Elevator and Escalator Installer and Repairer | $146,600 |
| Taper | $113,200 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trade and Extraction Worker | $111,300 |
| Boilermaker | $109,600 |
| Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Worker | $105,600 |
| Insulation Worker | $103,700 |
| Plumber | $103,400 |
| Electrician | $102,400 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Worker | $102,400 |
| Plasterer and Stucco Mason | $96,240 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49.57 ($103,100 a year).
Do operating engineer and other construction equipment operators make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $103,100 against $59,850 nationally, 72% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $97,740, so Chicago pays 5% more.
Where does Chicago rank for operating engineer and other construction equipment operator pay?
6 of 392 metro areas with data.
How much does an operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,060 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,200 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.