Machinists Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $57,470 +2.4% vs national
Median hourly $27.63
10th percentile $37,440
90th percentile $81,850
Employed locally 10,500
National median $56,150

Compare Machinists salary & buying power

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Machinists
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $37,440
    25th
    $45,740
    50th (median)
    $57,470
    75th
    $67,990
    90th
    $81,850

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Machinists salary vs area income 65% Median Machinists salary is 35% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Machinists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    District of Columbia $101,810
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $85,530
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL $80,150
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Barnstable Town, MA $77,650

    Nearby metros — Machinists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Bloomington, IL $81,240
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $78,580
    Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT $62,890
    Fayetteville, NC $62,590
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $62,350
    Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $61,340

    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
    Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers $39,530
    Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic $41,900

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Machinists make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Machinists in Chicago, IL-IN is $27.63, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.98 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Machinists salaries?

    The median Machinists salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 2.4% above the national median of $56,150. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Machinists in Chicago?

    Entry-level Machinists (10th percentile) earn around $37,440 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $45,740.