Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $48,090 -2.3% vs national
Median hourly $23.12
10th percentile $46,170
90th percentile $58,980
Employed locally 150
National median $49,240

Compare Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Chicago, IL-IN stacks up on salary and cost of living.

Full tool →
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $46,170
    25th
    $46,820
    50th (median)
    $48,090
    75th
    $55,050
    90th
    $58,980

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 54% Median Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 46% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Worcester, MA $86,590
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $65,690
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $65,530
    New Jersey $63,630
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $62,590
    Massachusetts $60,540

    Nearby metros — Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $62,590
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $60,500
    Canton-Massillon, OH $53,680
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $52,370
    Illinois $47,540
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $44,220

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators $40,560
    First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $72,760
    Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders $42,110
    Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers $47,330
    Machinists $57,470
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chicago, IL-IN is $23.12, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $32.34 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 2.3% below the national median of $49,240. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chicago?

    Entry-level Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $46,170 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $46,820.