Plant and System Operators, All Other Salary
The median pay for a plant and system operators, all other in Illinois is $77,780/year ($37.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $82,877 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $78K get you in Illinois?
About plant and system operators, all others
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for plant and system operators, all other, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.5% 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 plant and system operators, all others (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $81K | +4% | 160 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a plant and system operators, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 28.5% 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 plant and system operators, all others in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new plant and system operators, all others typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,305/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is plant and system operators, all other a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $78K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for plant and system operators, all others?
Illinois pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do plant and system operators, all others make in Illinois?
The median is $77,780 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,080, and experienced plant and system operators, all others can clear $84,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a plant and system operators, all other 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 plant and system operators, all other salary is worth about $82,877 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do plant and system operators, all others 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.