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Agricultural Equipment Operators Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Agricultural Equipment Operators salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$46,050
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$45,459
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Agricultural Equipment Operators earning $46,050 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $45,459 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $37,660 $37,176 $-483
25th Percentile (P25) $39,310 $38,805 $-504
Median (P50) $46,050 $45,459 $-590
75th Percentile (P75) $48,600 $47,976 $-623
90th Percentile (P90) $58,300 $57,551 $-748
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $46,050 keeps most of its value at $45,459 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Agricultural Equipment Operators is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $46,050 nominal nets out to $45,459 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Agricultural Equipment Operators.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#19 / 40

Illinois sits at #19 of 40 states for Agricultural Equipment Operators COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Agricultural Equipment Operators (After Cost of Living)

Where does Agricultural Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Montana
$65,083
RPP 90.3
$64,591
RPP 90.6
$54,613
RPP 88.0
$54,205
RPP 88.7
5. Iowa
$53,416
RPP 88.4
$51,971
RPP 89.8
7. Ohio
$51,606
RPP 91.5
$51,031
RPP 91.1
$51,029
RPP 92.3
10. Delaware
$50,928
RPP 98.0

Illinois ranks #19 out of 40 states for Agricultural Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Agricultural Equipment Operators take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Agricultural Equipment Operators in Illinois after cost of living?

A Agricultural Equipment Operators in Illinois earns a median salary of $46,050 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $45,459 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Agricultural Equipment Operators in Illinois: $46,050 x (100 / 101.3) = $45,459. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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