Salary comparison
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators: Chicago vs Waterloo
Chicago, IL pays about 5.5% more for operating engineers and other construction equipment operators on paper — $103,100 vs $97,770. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Chicago comes out ahead by $5,330 a year in real buying power.
Chicago, IL
$103,100
$78,580
$117,350
$49.57
100
$103,100/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Waterloo, IA
$97,770
$61,740
$97,770
$47.01
100
$97,770/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $5,330 a year (5.5%) in favor of Chicago. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Chicago runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Waterloo sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Chicago is the better deal by $5,330 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Waterloo to Chicago for this role, the raise needs to beat 5.5% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn more, Chicago or Waterloo?
Chicago pays $103,100 on median — about 5.5% more than Waterloo ($97,770). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Chicago. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Chicago gives you roughly$103,100 of real buying power versus $97,770 in the other city.