Plant and System Operators, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $84,320 or more. The middle half of other plant and system operators in Chicago earn between $79,540 and $84,320.
- $74K10th
- $80K25th
- $81KMedian
- $84K75th
- $84K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,240 | $6,603 | $38.10 |
| Median | $80,660 | $6,722 | $38.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,540 | $6,628 | $38.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $84,320 | $7,027 | $40.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other plant and system operators in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($76,620) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($65,700). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $79,240 | $80,660 | $73,600 | $84,320 | 160 |
| Illinois | $76,620 | $77,780 | $55,080 | $84,320 | 230 |
| United States | $65,700 | $62,470 | $40,700 | $94,560 | 14,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $79,240, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $60,794 a year, or $5,066 a month and $2,338 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $62,228 | $5,186 |
| Working in IL | $60,794 | $5,066 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for other plant and system operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $79,240 buys what about $76,490 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$68,390
- Dayton, OH$73,580
- Detroit, MI$70,800
- St. Louis, MO$68,360
- Cincinnati, OH$64,110
- Louisville, KY$75,560
Highest-paying cities for other plant and system operators
Sacramento, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($95,910).
- Sacramento, CA$95,910
- Las Vegas, NV$94,340
- Duluth, MN$91,550
- San Jose, CA$89,220
- San Francisco, CA$88,310
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Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other plant and system operators make an hour in Chicago?
$38.09 an hour on average, and $38.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other plant and system operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,540, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other plant and system operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $60,794 a year ($5,066 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,240.
Do other plant and system operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more than the U.S. average for this job ($65,700).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-8099; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.39, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.39).
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