SOC 47-4051 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Highway Maintenance Workers — Illinois
Illinois · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois comes to $61,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,260 by 22.8%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois comes to $61,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $50,260 by 22.8%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $45,550 and $88,790. The lowest tenth earn under $35,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $100,790.
Employment stands at 10,790, or 1.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 5th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $76,220. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 393rd of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,680 | −29.0% |
| 25th | $45,550 | −9.4% |
| Median (50th) | $61,700 | +22.8% |
| 75th | $88,790 | +76.7% |
| 90th | $100,790 | +100.5% |
| Mean | $66,410 | +32.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $76,220 | 4,110 | |
| 2 | Kankakee | $73,080 | 100 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $71,320 | 180 | |
| 4 | Champaign | $65,730 | 290 | |
| 5 | Peoria | $61,410 | 430 | |
| 6 | Bloomington | $61,290 | 190 | |
| 7 | Decatur | $54,790 | 120 | |
| 8 | Rockford | $50,610 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $61,700 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$61,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$61,700US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,700 a year, 22.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $35,680 to $100,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,790 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 5th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $76,220.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Highway Maintenance Workers in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $61,700, or $29.66 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 $50,260, so pay in Illinois is 22.8% 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 Illinois earns more than $100,790 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $35,680 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $76,220 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,790 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. 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.
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