Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators, Chicago
$103,100
BLS OEWS median annual wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Middle half of wages roughly $78,580 to $117,350.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US median
- +72.3%
- US median
- $59,850
- Metro RPP
- 103.6
- Middle half
- $78,580 to $117,350
- OEWS employment
- 7,930
- SOC
- 47-2073
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Chicago pay a median $103,100 (May 2025), 72.3% above the US median of $59,850. At local prices (RPP 103.6), that median buys about what $99,517 buys at US-average prices.
Purchasing power
$103,100 in Chicago buys about what $99,517 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 103.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 112 vs all-items 103.6 (US = 100, 2024).
Find jobs
See current openings for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Chicago.
Opens external site · PayByCity is not affiliated with Indeed or LinkedIn · Listings not verified by us
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in nearby metros
| Metro | Median | Middle half | RPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $103,100 | $78,580 to $117,350 | 103.6 |
| Phoenix | $62,540 | $52,400 to $67,530 | 103.3 |
| San Francisco | $124,750 | $79,200 to $133,820 | 115.6 |
| Tulsa | $48,420 | $45,410 to $56,760 | 89.2 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.
FAQ
- What is the median salary for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Chicago?
- According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $103,100.
- How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators?
- Local median pay is 72.3% above the national OEWS median of $59,850.
- How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
- BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $103,100 has about the same purchasing power as $99,517 at US-average prices.
- How current is this data?
- Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.