Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $63,680 +21.2% vs national
Median hourly $30.61
10th percentile $45,660
90th percentile $115,260
Employed locally 390
National median $52,550

Compare Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary & buying power

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Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $45,660
    25th
    $60,420
    50th (median)
    $63,680
    75th
    $87,300
    90th
    $115,260

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary vs area income 72% Median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary is 28% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $139,310
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $121,790
    West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area $111,600
    New Jersey $105,490
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $95,260
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $94,470

    Nearby metros — Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $139,310
    South Illinois nonmetropolitan area $69,580
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $62,920
    Illinois $62,320
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $61,990
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $61,150

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers $68,410
    Carpenters $76,510
    Electricians $99,540
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $104,790
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $98,890
    Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $101,200

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Chicago, IL-IN is $30.61, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.77 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salaries?

    The median Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 21.2% above the national median of $52,550. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Chicago?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $45,660 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $60,420.