Heat Treating Equipment 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 $42,320 -10.8% vs national
Median hourly $20.35
10th percentile $33,670
90th percentile $58,290
Employed locally 700
National median $47,450

Compare Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
in
Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $33,670
    25th
    $34,750
    50th (median)
    $42,320
    75th
    $49,740
    90th
    $58,290

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 48% Median Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 52% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $66,860
    Oklahoma City, OK $64,420
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $64,390
    Albany, OR $64,210
    Washington $64,040
    San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $62,260

    Nearby metros — Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $64,390
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $58,740
    Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area $55,810
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $54,410
    Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL $51,940
    St. Louis, MO-IL $51,250

    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 Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chicago, IL-IN is $20.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $33.89 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 10.8% below the national median of $47,450. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chicago?

    Entry-level Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $33,670 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $34,750.