An operating device with a level control, that comprises an actuating element having an interior, the actuating element being movable along an adjustment path, wherein the actuating element comprises a bottom face and outer gripping faces, characterized in that the actuating element comprises in the interior a light guiding section which, in a coupling section at the bottom face surface of the actuating element, conducts injected light to one or more exit zones of the gripping faces of the actuating element and along the adjustment path a plurality of separately controllable illumination means is arranged so that the actuating element covers in each position of the level control along the adjustment path at least one of the illumination means with its bottom face surface, and the illumination means and the level control are connected to a control device which activates based on the position of the level control only the illumination means for light emission, which are covered by the coupling section of the actuating element, and
- further characterized in that at least one contact section of the gripping faces of the actuating element is electrically conductively connected to a lever of the level control on which the actuating element is attached, whereat the lever again is electrically coupled with a sensor for detecting a contact of the actuating element.