--- title: "Operating Engineer Programs in Illinois: Pay & Tuition" canonical: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/ description: "Operating Engineer pay in Illinois: BLS average $90,500 (all experience levels), median $97,740, bottom 10% $49,770. 10 listed programs." updated: 2026-11-03 wage_source: "BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15" --- 1. [Home](https://highpayingtrades.com/) 2. [Trades](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/) 3. [Operating Engineer](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/) 4. Illinois Illinois # Operating Engineer programs in *Illinois* 10 listed heavy equipment operator programs in Illinois, plus BLS pay data for the state and 12 metro areas. - **$90,500** Average pay (state, all experience levels) - **$49,770** Entry-level / bottom 10% - **$97,740** Median pay (state) - **$123,330** Top 10% earn over 12,290 jobs in Illinois · 10 listed programs. Average = BLS mean across all experience levels, not starting pay. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Cities with listed programs - [Wilmington 4](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/wilmington/) - [Joliet 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/joliet/) - [Bartonville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/bartonville/) - [Marion 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/marion/) - [Mechanicsburg 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/mechanicsburg/) - [Saint Jacob 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/saint-jacob/) BLS wage data ## Operating Engineer pay in Illinois Annual wages from the BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Illinois | $49,770 | $69,230 | $97,740 | $109,320 | $123,330 | $90,500 | 12,290 | | United States | $42,190 | $48,680 | $59,850 | $77,170 | $101,090 | $66,290 | 478,090 | Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. ### Metro areas | Area | 10th pct | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | 90th pct | Mean | Employed | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $58,060 | $78,580 | $103,100 | $117,350 | $124,160 | $96,370 | 7,930 | | Decatur, IL | $49,850 | $81,160 | $100,520 | $109,460 | $116,170 | $91,810 | 100 | | Rockford, IL | $57,670 | $69,720 | $97,250 | $101,850 | $117,050 | $89,540 | 260 | | Bloomington, IL | $59,150 | $83,200 | $96,250 | $100,120 | $100,120 | $88,190 | 180 | | Springfield, IL | $45,150 | $61,770 | $95,310 | $102,570 | $102,570 | $83,790 | 210 | | Kankakee, IL | $60,520 | $71,120 | $94,270 | $119,460 | $122,720 | $90,890 | 90 | | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $57,690 | $63,120 | $92,900 | $99,020 | $113,480 | $85,380 | 160 | | Peoria, IL | $46,100 | $58,980 | $86,440 | $98,980 | $102,680 | $79,120 | 330 | | St. Louis, MO-IL | $47,210 | $58,600 | $82,270 | $94,250 | $100,810 | $77,930 | 4,190 | | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $42,910 | $53,470 | $64,850 | $85,210 | $97,050 | $68,940 | 570 | | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $38,980 | $48,750 | $61,480 | $80,290 | $89,880 | $64,600 | 130 | | Paducah, KY-IL | $47,610 | $49,880 | $59,000 | $64,670 | $83,810 | $60,380 | 460 | Metropolitan area estimates, BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15. Only areas BLS published are shown. Programs ## Listed programs in Illinois Every heavy equipment operator program we matched in Illinois. Schools with published tuition are listed first. | Program / provider | Location | Type | Graduates 2023-24 | Tuition | Source | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Joliet Junior College](https://www.jjc.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Joliet, IL | Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | $4,530–$13,800 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | [Joliet Junior College](https://www.jjc.edu/) Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation | Joliet, IL | Associate degree | 0 | $4,530–$13,800 Annual tuition & fees, in-state to out-of-state (institution-wide) | IPEDS 2023-24 · CIP 49.0202 | | Operating Engineers 318 Apprenticeship & Advanced Training | Marion, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers 965 Apprenticeship and Skills Improvement | Mechanicsburg, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers Local #520 | Saint Jacob, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | Operating Engineers Local 649 JATC | Bartonville, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Geothermal JATF | Wilmington, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Heavy Equipment JATF | Wilmington, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Inspector JATF | Wilmington, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | | OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Op Eng. JATF | Wilmington, IL | Registered apprenticeship sponsor | n/a | Contact program | DOL Office of Apprenticeship | Schools: NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code; “Graduates 2023-24” is the number of first-major certificates or associate degrees the school awarded in that program from July 2023 to June 2024 (IPEDS). Tuition: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (updated 2026-10-15), matched by IPEDS unit ID; it is the published figure, not a quote. Apprenticeship sponsors: DOL Office of Apprenticeship partner file (retrieved 2026-10-29); apprenticeships are typically paid, so no tuition is listed — contact the program. ### Browse by city - [Wilmington 4](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/wilmington/) - [Joliet 2](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/joliet/) - [Bartonville 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/bartonville/) - [Marion 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/marion/) - [Mechanicsburg 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/mechanicsburg/) - [Saint Jacob 1](https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/saint-jacob/) Related resources ## Keep researching [**GI Bill heavy equipment operator schools** Schools approved for VA benefits. · VeteranTradeSchools.com](https://veterantradeschools.com/heavy-equipment-operator/) [**Verified CDL training schools** Many equipment jobs also involve hauling machines; compare CDL programs. · VerifiedCDLSchools.com](https://verifiedcdlschools.com/) [**Registered apprenticeships in Illinois** The full DOL sponsor list for the state. · RegisteredTradeSchools.com](https://registeredtradeschools.com/apprenticeships/il/) ## Sources - **Wages:** U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 ([news release USDL-26-0725](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm); [data tables](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm)). Cross-checked against the BLS Public Data API on 2026-11-03. - **Occupation:** O\*NET OnLine, [47-2073.00 Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/47-2073.00), retrieved 2026-11-03 (CC BY 4.0). - **Apprenticeship sponsors:** U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship: partner sponsors file, retrieved 2026-10-29 ([Partner Finder](https://www.apprenticeship.gov/partner-finder)). - **Schools & graduates:** U.S. Department of Education, NCES IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024\_A) and Institutional Characteristics (HD2024), award year 2023-24, matched by 6-digit CIP code ([completions file](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/data/C2024_A.zip); [CIP-SOC crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/Files/CIP2020_SOC2018_Crosswalk.xlsx)). - **Tuition:** U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts: Institution + Field of Study), data updated 2026-10-15, matched by IPEDS unit ID ([source](https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/)). Program listings are matched from public files by occupation code or organization name; they are not endorsements and we have not visited or tested any program. Confirm schedules, entry requirements and costs with the program. Compiled by the HighPayingTrades team; last refreshed 2026-11-03. --- Canonical HTML: https://highpayingtrades.com/trades/operating-engineer/illinois/ Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released 2026-05-15 (https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/ocwage_05152026.htm). Programs: NCES IPEDS 2023-24 completions; DOL Office of Apprenticeship. Tuition: College Scorecard.