Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators salary in Rockford, IL
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators in the Rockford, IL metro area earn a median of $97,250 a year ($46.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,050 for the top 10%. That is 62% higher than the national median of $59,850. Pay here is 1% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $97,740. There are 1.9 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $89,540, close to the median.
Pay range for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Rockford, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,670 | $27.73 |
| 25th percentile | $69,720 | $33.52 |
| Median | $97,250 | $46.75 |
| 75th percentile | $101,850 | $48.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,050 | $56.27 |
| Average (mean) | $89,540 | $43.05 |
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 | $8,104.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,052.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,740.38 |
| Weekly | $1,870.19 |
| Hourly | $46.75 |
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 |
| Bloomington, IL | $96,250 | 180 |
| Springfield, IL | $95,310 | 210 |
| Kankakee, IL | $94,270 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $92,900 | 160 |
| 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 Rockford, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $58,390 | $28.07 |
| Carpenter | $72,770 | $34.99 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $94,230 | $45.31 |
| Electrician | $93,280 | $44.85 |
| Structural Iron and Steel Workers | $100,290 | $48.22 |
| Roofer | $65,100 | $31.30 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | $78,640 | $37.81 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $75,320 | $36.21 |
| Painters, Construction and Maintenance | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Brickmasons and Blockmasons | $78,080 | $37.54 |
| Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard Tiles | $49,980 | $24.03 |
| Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $102,140 | $49.11 |
| Highway Maintenance Worker | $50,610 | $24.33 |
More: Construction and Extraction Occupations · all salaries in Rockford, 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 Rockford, IL?
The median salary for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Rockford, IL metro area is $97,250 a year, or $46.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $117,050 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid operating engineers and other construction equipment operators make in Rockford, IL?
The top 10% of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in the Rockford, IL metro area earn at least $117,050 a year. The top 25% earn $101,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators in Rockford, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,670 a year, and a quarter of operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn $69,720 or less.
How many operating engineers and other construction equipment operators work in Rockford, IL?
About 260 operating engineers and other construction equipment operators are employed in the Rockford, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.