SOC 51-8092 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Gas Plant Operators — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median wage for Gas Plant Operators in Chicago, IL is $102,810 per year, 17.1% above the national median of $87,820.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Gas Plant Operators in Chicago, IL is $102,810 per year, 17.1% above the national median of $87,820. Pay ranges from under $68,000 at the tenth percentile to more than $112,890 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $85,530 to $112,660.
The area has 340 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 124th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,000 | −22.6% |
| 25th | $85,530 | −2.6% |
| Median (50th) | $102,810 | +17.1% |
| 75th | $112,660 | +28.3% |
| 90th | $112,890 | +28.5% |
| Mean | $96,520 | +9.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $102,810 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$102,810as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$102,810US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $102,810 a year, 17.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $68,000 to $112,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 340 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Gas Plant Operators in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $102,810, or $49.43 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $87,820, so pay in Chicago, IL is 17.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $112,890 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $68,000 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 340 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data