Continuous Mining Machine Operators Salary
Continuous Mining Machine Operators in Illinois make a median of $74,830 a year, or about $35.98 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $79,734 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 28.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Illinois. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $75K get you in Illinois?
About continuous mining machine operators
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for continuous mining machine operators, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level continuous mining machine operators (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
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Track continuous mining machine operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a continuous mining machine operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 29.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for continuous mining machine operators in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new continuous mining machine operators typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,849/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is continuous mining machine operator a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $75K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for continuous mining machine operators?
Illinois pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do continuous mining machine operators make in Illinois?
The median is $74,830 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,490, and experienced continuous mining machine operators can clear $79,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,777/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 29.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a continuous mining machine operators salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median continuous mining machine operators salary is worth about $79,734 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do continuous mining machine operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.