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Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Illinois

Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Illinois

Get the information you need to know about working as an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator.

8.4% Jobs Projection
$83,860 Median Salary
1,400 Job Openings

You’re in luck! Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Illinois are projected to grow and these jobs tend to pay higher than average.

  • Projected employment for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Illinois is growing faster than average.

  • Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in Illinois earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

How Many Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Work in Illinois?

There were approximately 11,150 workers employed as Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state in 2018.

There were 11,400 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators employed in this state in 2017.

That’s a decline of 250 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

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The typical state has 5,620 Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators working in it, which means Illinois has more Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators than average.

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Job Projections for Illinois

Jobs for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state are growing at a rate of 8.4% which is slower than the nationwide estimated projection of 12.3%.

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Illinois Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates there will be 1,400 annual job openings, and 12,510 total jobs in 2026 for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators in this state.

Nationwide, the prediction is 47,300 annual jobs and 416,900 total jobs in 2026.

What do Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Make in Illinois?

In 2018 wages for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators ranged from $38,630 to $106,500 with $83,860 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $18.57 to $51.2. The median hourly rate was $40.32.

In 2017 the median pay for this field was $38.68 an hour.

The hourly rate grew by $1.64.

The median salary in Illinois is higher than the nationwide median salary.

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Top Illinois Metros for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators.

Metro Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 7,680 $88,660
St. Louis, MO-IL 3,680 $66,420
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 380 $63,780
Springfield, IL 340 $51,490
Peoria, IL 330 $62,910
Carbondale-Marion, IL 200 $49,910
Champaign-Urbana, IL 170 $85,570
Decatur, IL 100 $64,680
Cape Girardeau, MO-IL 90 $36,100
Danville, IL 40 $76,410

Top States for Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators Employment

The table below shows the states where most Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators work.

State Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Texas 42,880 $39,400
California 28,110 $71,120
Pennsylvania 21,110 $48,700
Florida 18,720 $37,580
Ohio 15,500 $53,060
New York 13,160 $69,590
North Carolina 12,720 $37,930
Georgia 11,360 $36,100
Colorado 11,290 $49,460
Illinois 11,150 $83,860
Virginia 10,450 $40,220
Minnesota 10,010 $64,750
Indiana 9,160 $53,790
Louisiana 8,820 $43,600
Washington 8,750 $64,880
Wisconsin 7,970 $63,320
Michigan 7,870 $52,240
Arizona 7,400 $45,930
Missouri 7,290 $51,570
Massachusetts 7,010 $60,840

Below are the states where Operating Engineers and Construction Equipment Operators get paid the most:

State Annual Median Salary
Illinois $83,860
Hawaii $82,000
New Jersey $71,650
California $71,120
Alaska $70,210
New York $69,590
Connecticut $67,880
Washington $64,880
Minnesota $64,750
Wisconsin $63,320

Discover similar careers:

Occupation IL Employment Total

What Major Will Prepare You For an Operating Engineer or Construction Equipment Operator Career?

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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