Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn a median of $92,900 a year ($44.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,480 for the top 10%. That is 55% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 5% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $97,740. There are 1.5 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.48). The average (mean) salary is $85,380, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,690 | $27.73 |
| 25th percentile | $63,120 | $30.35 |
| Median | $92,900 | $44.66 |
| 75th percentile | $99,020 | $47.60 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $113,480 | $54.56 |
| Average (mean) | $85,380 | $41.05 |
Half of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators 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 | $7,741.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,870.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,573.08 |
| Weekly | $1,786.54 |
| Hourly | $44.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,100 | 7,930 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,520 | 100 |
| Rockford, IL | $97,250 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 | 210 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,270 | 90 |
| Peoria, IL | $86,440 | 330 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $82,270 | 4,190 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,850 | 570 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $61,480 | 130 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,000 | 460 |
Highest-paying states for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $115,860 |
| Illinois | $97,740 |
| New Jersey | $89,660 |
| California | $87,160 |
| Washington | $81,700 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Indiana | $79,580 |
| Minnesota | $79,130 |
| Connecticut | $78,750 |
| Alaska | $77,810 |
See Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Champaign-Urbana, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $59,460 | $28.59 |
| Electrician | $100,320 | $48.23 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| Carpenter | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $84,370 | $40.56 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $74,660 | $35.90 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $92,710 | $44.57 |
| Roofer | $60,150 | $28.92 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $83,250 | $40.02 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $82,480 | $39.65 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $96,940 | $46.61 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $65,730 | $31.60 |
| Construction and Building Inspectors | $73,350 | $35.26 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Champaign-Urbana, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 47-2073. 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 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area is $92,900 a year, or $44.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,690 for the lowest-paid 10% to $113,480 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area earn at least $113,480 a year. The top 25% earn $99,020 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,690 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $63,120 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
About 160 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Champaign-Urbana, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.