Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Chicago, IL
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $87,060 a year — 52% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,912 take-home, or $5,493 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,323
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,398
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,262
- Illinois income tax$4,165
- Take-home pay$65,912
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,560 | $22.38 | $37,431 | $3,119 |
| 25th percentile | $63,970 | $30.75 | $50,558 | $4,213 |
| Median (50th) | $87,060 | $41.86 | $65,912 | $5,493 |
| 75th percentile | $93,290 | $44.85 | $69,986 | $5,832 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,360 | $47.77 | $73,956 | $6,163 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $87,060 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining's $65,912 take-home pay has the buying power of $63,625 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $87,060 | $65,912 | $63,625 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $94,960 | $71,072 | $63,140 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $56,460 | $45,238 | $45,212 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $61,040 | $48,705 | $44,731 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $51,420 | $43,496 | $44,354 |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $47,970 | $40,724 | $42,996 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $49,920 | $42,291 | $42,879 |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | $51,780 | $43,785 | $42,473 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Chicago, IL?
The median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $87,060 a year, or about $41.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $63,970 and $93,290.
What is a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $87,060 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $65,912 a year ($5,493 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,165 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining?
Pay here is 52% above the national median of $57,430. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $63,625 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 28% of a median excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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