Occupation is in demand for the following regions:
Northeast, Career Cluster
Wages for operating engineers and construction equipment operators vary according to the type of machinery being operated.
Wages may also be affected by poor weather conditions. For example, these workers are less likely to work when the ground is muddy from snow or rain. In general, union workers receive higher wages.
Union operating engineers and construction equipment operators and those working for government agencies generally receive health insurance and a retirement plan.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (SOC 47-2073)
| Location |
Pay Period | |
||
| 25% |
Median |
75% |
||
| Illinois | Hourly | $29.17 | $38.68 | $48.36 |
| Yearly | $60,664 | $80,462 | $100,584 | |
| Champaign Area | Hourly | $20.01 | $30.91 | $45.46 |
| Yearly | $41,626 | $64,284 | $94,564 | |
| Charleston-Effingham-Centralia Area | Hourly | $20.37 | $40.40 | $45.81 |
| Yearly | $42,369 | $84,028 | $95,288 | |
| Cook County | Hourly | $34.22 | $42.07 | $51.25 |
| Yearly | $71,178 | $87,512 | $106,610 | |
| Decatur Area | Hourly | $23.84 | $26.91 | $29.59 |
| Yearly | $49,584 | $55,964 | $61,541 | |
| Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area | Hourly | $36.76 | $44.09 | $49.60 |
| Yearly | $76,467 | $91,715 | $103,160 | |
| Du Page County | Hourly | $35.44 | $45.13 | $51.73 |
| Yearly | $73,714 | $93,861 | $107,590 | |
| Edwardsville Area | Hourly | $30.47 | $35.73 | $40.43 |
| Yearly | $63,388 | $74,316 | $84,097 | |
| Jacksonville-Carlinville-Litchfield Area | Hourly | $21.99 | $24.88 | $30.17 |
| Yearly | $45,745 | $51,751 | $62,757 | |
| Kankakee-Morris-Pontiac Area | Hourly | $29.13 | $41.68 | $47.33 |
| Yearly | $60,599 | $86,699 | $98,445 | |
| Lake County | Hourly | $33.51 | $44.16 | $51.50 |
| Yearly | $69,709 | $91,862 | $107,124 | |
| McHenry County | Hourly | $37.16 | $50.59 | $56.98 |
| Yearly | $77,292 | $105,236 | $118,515 | |
| Mt. Vernon-Marion-Carbondale Area | Hourly | $21.67 | $25.38 | $35.55 |
| Yearly | $45,065 | $52,788 | $73,936 | |
| Northwest Illinois Area | Hourly | $22.14 | $33.51 | $44.77 |
| Yearly | $46,059 | $69,710 | $93,130 | |
| Peoria-Bloomington Area | Hourly | $23.29 | $31.94 | $42.97 |
| Yearly | $48,448 | $66,426 | $89,377 | |
| Quincy-Macomb-Galesburg Area | Hourly | $24.55 | $30.22 | $37.45 |
| Yearly | $51,073 | $62,855 | $77,901 | |
| Rock Island-Moline Area | Hourly | $28.89 | $36.24 | $43.37 |
| Yearly | $60,084 | $75,380 | $90,216 | |
| Rockford Area | Hourly | $25.10 | $31.76 | $38.29 |
| Yearly | $52,204 | $66,059 | $79,635 | |
| Shawnee National Forest Area | Hourly | $20.98 | $24.93 | $30.43 |
| Yearly | $43,648 | $51,858 | $63,302 | |
| Springfield Area | Hourly | $16.97 | $19.36 | $37.00 |
| Yearly | $35,289 | $40,273 | $76,957 | |
| St. Louis-Belleville Area | Hourly | $18.34 | $27.68 | $35.17 |
| Yearly | $38,158 | $57,568 | $73,148 | |
| Vermilion County | Hourly | $31.57 | $42.00 | $46.28 |
| Yearly | $65,661 | $87,352 | $96,266 | |
| Will County | Hourly | $32.42 | $41.70 | $49.97 |
| Yearly | $67,442 | $86,745 | $103,927 | |
| United States | Hourly | $18.44 | $23.55 | $30.95 |
| Yearly | $38,350 | $48,980 | $64,370 | |