Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining Salary in Northwest Illinois

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area

Median annual salary $62,920 +19.7% vs national
Median hourly $30.25
10th percentile $44,730
90th percentile $80,820
Employed locally 170
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
in
Northwest Illinois
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $44,730
    25th
    $46,750
    50th (median)
    $62,920
    75th
    $74,050
    90th
    $80,820

    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

    Related occupations in Northwest Illinois

    OccupationMedian salary
    Construction Laborers$57,630
    Electricians$76,260
    Carpenters$62,660
    Highway Maintenance Workers$53,430
    Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$78,470
    First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$91,000

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining in Northwest Illinois is $30.25, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $42.70 or more per hour.

    Is Northwest Illinois 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 Northwest Illinois is 19.7% 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 Northwest Illinois?

    Entry-level Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (10th percentile) earn around $44,730 per year in Northwest Illinois. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,750.