Salaries › Heavy Equipment Operator › Illinois
Heavy Equipment Operator Salary in Illinois (2026)
$46.99 per hour · take-home ≈ $72,752/year ($6,063/month) for a single filer
Heavy Equipment Operator pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $49,770 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $69,230 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $97,740 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $109,320 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $123,330 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 12,290 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Illinois (occupation code 47-2073, “Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Heavy Equipment Operator salary of $97,740 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $72,752 — an effective tax rate of 25.6%.
| Gross (median) | $97,740 |
| Federal income tax | −$12,673 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$7,477 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$4,838 |
| Take-home (annual) | $72,752 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $6,063 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Heavy Equipment Operator make in Illinois?
- The median Heavy Equipment Operator salary in Illinois is $97,740 per year ($46.99 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $69,230 and $109,320.
- What is the take-home pay for a Heavy Equipment Operator in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $97,740, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $72,752 per year ($6,063 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 25.6%.
- How many Heavy Equipment Operator jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 12,290 Heavy Equipment Operator jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Heavy Equipment Operators
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.