Lathe and Turning Machine Tool 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 $50,090 +3% vs national
Median hourly $24.08
10th percentile $36,290
90th percentile $65,830
Employed locally 600
National median $48,620

Compare Lathe and Turning Machine Tool 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.

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Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $36,290
    25th
    $38,670
    50th (median)
    $50,090
    75th
    $61,090
    90th
    $65,830

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 56% Median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary is 44% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Greeley, CO $71,150
    Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $64,790
    Pittsburgh, PA $64,410
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $62,920
    Maine $62,120
    Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $62,080

    Nearby metros — Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $57,790
    Peoria, IL $56,640
    Illinois $55,620
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $55,250
    St. Louis, MO-IL $54,080
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $51,080

    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 Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in Chicago, IL-IN is $24.08, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $31.55 or more per hour.

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

    The median Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 3% above the national median of $48,620. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $36,290 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $38,670.