Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $87,060 a year ($41.85 an hour), based on BLS data for 570 workers.
Pay ranges from $46,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,360 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $57,430. Pay here is 8% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $80,600. There are 0.13 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.57). The average (mean) salary is $80,260, close to the median.
Pay range for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,560 | $22.39 |
| 25th percentile | $63,970 | $30.76 |
| Median | $87,060 | $41.85 |
| 75th percentile | $93,290 | $44.85 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,360 | $47.77 |
| Average (mean) | $80,260 | $38.59 |
Half of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,255 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,627.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,348.46 |
| Weekly | $1,674.23 |
| Hourly | $41.85 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $65,290 | 30 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,990 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,330 | 320 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $61,140 | 240 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,250 | 170 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $59,560 | 210 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $57,640 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| North Dakota | $90,380 |
| Illinois | $80,600 |
| New Jersey | $80,310 |
| Wyoming | $78,230 |
| New Mexico | $76,350 |
| Massachusetts | $76,070 |
| Alaska | $74,680 |
| California | $74,500 |
| Montana | $65,850 |
| Connecticut | $65,710 |
See Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | $81,960 | $39.40 |
| Construction Laborer | $60,890 | $29.27 |
| Electrician | $102,350 | $49.21 |
| Carpenter | $80,440 | $38.68 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $111,260 | $53.49 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $103,100 | $49.57 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $61,740 | $29.68 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $76,220 | $36.64 |
| Roofer | $82,090 | $39.47 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $81,020 | $38.95 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $89,980 | $43.26 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $102,350 | $49.21 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-5022. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $87,060 a year, or $41.85 an hour. Pay ranges from $46,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $99,360 a year. The top 25% earn $93,290 or more.
What is the starting pay for excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $46,560 a year, and a quarter of excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining earn $63,970 or less.
How many excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 570 excavating and loading machine and dragline operators, surface mining are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.