Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator Salary in Chicago, IL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $103,100 a year — 72% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,402 take-home, or $6,367 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,852
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,392
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,495
- Illinois income tax$4,959
- Take-home pay$76,402
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,060 | $27.91 | $46,102 | $3,842 |
| 25th percentile | $78,580 | $37.78 | $60,366 | $5,031 |
| Median (50th) | $103,100 | $49.57 | $76,402 | $6,367 |
| 75th percentile | $117,350 | $56.42 | $85,722 | $7,143 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,160 | $59.69 | $90,128 | $7,511 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,100 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 operating engineer and other construction equipment operator's $76,402 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,751 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $124,750 | $87,539 | $75,717 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $103,100 | $76,402 | $73,751 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $95,750 | $76,190 | $68,558 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $82,190 | $64,256 | $67,146 |
| 5 | St. Louis, MO | $82,270 | $63,778 | $67,072 |
| 6 | Columbus, OH | $78,950 | $62,983 | $65,972 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $91,650 | $67,820 | $63,580 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $95,050 | $71,130 | $63,191 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator make in Chicago, IL?
The median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $103,100 a year, or about $49.57 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,580 and $117,350.
What is a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $103,100 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $76,402 a year ($6,367 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,959 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator?
Pay here is 72% above the national median of $59,850. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,751 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a operating engineer and other construction equipment operator 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) — 24% of a median operating engineer and other construction equipment operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $111,260
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $103,380
- Electrician — $102,350
- Sheet Metal Worker — $95,310
- Roofer — $82,090
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $81,020
- Carpenter — $80,440
- Highway Maintenance Worker — $76,220
- Painters, Construction and Maintenance — $61,740
- Construction Laborer — $60,890