Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $60,120 -10.8% vs national
Median hourly $28.90
10th percentile $51,320
90th percentile $78,910
Employed locally 220
National median $67,370

Compare Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,320
    25th
    $58,920
    50th (median)
    $60,120
    75th
    $78,910
    90th
    $78,910

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary vs area income 68% Median Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary is 32% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Maryland $90,410
    Delaware $86,330
    New York $84,840
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $84,840
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $84,800
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $84,000

    Nearby metros — Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Illinois $76,930
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $62,020

    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 Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Chicago, IL-IN is $28.90, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.94 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salaries?

    The median Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 10.8% below the national median of $67,370. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators in Chicago?

    Entry-level Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators (10th percentile) earn around $51,320 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $58,920.