Sources: Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Illinois CMS Alphabetic Index of Position Titles (FY 2027, effective July 1, 2026, corrected edition); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Illinois state pay plan Sourced
Published rates for each class, lowest first, effective July 1, 2026. These are the ranges Illinois sets for its own state employees; cities, counties and school districts have their own pay plans.
| Class and grade | Published rate |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Equipment Operator Class 25020 Grade HR-001-B — (DHS Tractor Trailer) · HR-001 Local #700 (Cook County) | $7,098.00 – $8,870.00 a month $85,176 – $106,440 a year 3 steps
|
Grade HR-001-B — (Dispatcher) · HR-001 Local #700 (Cook County) | $7,321.00 – $9,151.00 a month $87,852 – $109,812 a year 3 steps
|
Grade HR-001-B, RC-020-B · HR-001 Local #700 (Cook County); RC-020 Locals #330 (Fox River Valley: DuPage; Kane; Kendall; Lake; McHenry; & Will counties) and #705 (Kankakee county) | $7,061.00 – $8,828.00 a month $84,732 – $105,936 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-019-B · RC-019 Downstate (All counties other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, & Will counties) | $7,071.00 – $8,841.00 a month $84,852 – $106,092 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-019-Q — (DHS Forensics) · RC-019 Downstate (All counties other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, & Will counties) | $7,154.00 – $8,936.00 a month $85,848 – $107,232 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-019-Q — (Corrections and Juvenile Justice) · RC-019 Downstate (All counties other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, & Will counties) | $7,277.00 – $9,096.00 a month $87,324 – $109,152 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-019-S, RC-020-S — (Corrections Maximum Security) · RC-019 Downstate (All counties other than Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, & Will counties); RC-020 Locals #330 (Fox River Valley: DuPage; Kane; Kendall; Lake; McHenry; & Will counties) and #705 (Kankakee county) | $7,341.00 – $9,174.00 a month $88,092 – $110,088 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-020-Q — (Corrections and Juvenile Justice) · RC-020 Locals #330 (Fox River Valley: DuPage; Kane; Kendall; Lake; McHenry; & Will counties) and #705 (Kankakee county) | $7,301.00 – $9,128.00 a month $87,612 – $109,536 a year 3 steps
|
Grade MS-19-4 · Merit Compensation System salary ranges (MS) | $6,135.00 – $8,790.00 a month $73,620 – $105,480 a year |
| Heavy Construction Equipment Operator Class 18465 Grade HR-001-Q · HR-001 Local #700 (Cook County) | $7,442.00 – $9,306.00 a month $89,304 – $111,672 a year 3 steps
|
Grade HR-001-Q — (Bridge Crew) · HR-001 Local #700 (Cook County) | $7,548.00 – $9,436.00 a month $90,576 – $113,232 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-020-Q · RC-020 Locals #330 (Fox River Valley: DuPage; Kane; Kendall; Lake; McHenry; & Will counties) and #705 (Kankakee county) | $7,442.00 – $9,306.00 a month $89,304 – $111,672 a year 3 steps
|
Grade RC-020-Q — (Bridge Crew) · RC-020 Locals #330 (Fox River Valley: DuPage; Kane; Kendall; Lake; McHenry; & Will counties) and #705 (Kankakee county) | $7,548.00 – $9,436.00 a month $90,576 – $113,232 a year 3 steps
|
Grade MS-21-4 · Merit Compensation System salary ranges (MS) | $6,460.00 – $9,337.00 a month $77,520 – $112,044 a year |
| Highway Construction Equipment Operator Class 18500 | No fixed rate published |
Rates are as the plan publishes them; "a year" figures are conversions. Classes are matched to this job by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).
Source: Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Illinois CMS Alphabetic Index of Position Titles (FY 2027, effective July 1, 2026, corrected edition). Data captured September 30, 2026.
Pay in Illinois, all employers Sourced
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (SOC 47-2073) in Illinois, all employers combined: BLS state estimates do not separate government from private.
| Measure | IL |
|---|---|
| Workers | 12,290 |
| 10th percentile | $49,770 |
| Median | $97,740 |
| 90th percentile | $123,330 |
| National median, government employers | $52,750 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.
Free practice tests for Illinois
Illinois CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestIllinois version · free on Open Exam Prep- Illinois CDL General (Core) Knowledge TestIllinois version · free on Open Exam Prep
- CDL Air Brakes Knowledge TestPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL) General Knowledge ExamPractice for a named exam · free on Open Exam Prep
Source: Open Exam Prep, Open Exam Prep free practice tests. Data captured October 1, 2026. Each link was opened and its exam title checked on the date shown.
More about this job
Requirements, hiring process, training, schedule and day-to-day work are on the national Heavy Equipment Operator (government) page.