Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $66,660 +6.3% vs national
Median hourly $32.05
10th percentile $38,790
90th percentile $66,670
National median $62,700

Compare Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary & buying power

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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $38,790
    25th
    $44,080
    50th (median)
    $66,660
    75th
    $66,660
    90th
    $66,670

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary vs area income 75% Median Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary is 25% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $102,130
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $85,820
    Georgia $84,700
    California $77,970
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $76,260
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $75,620

    Nearby metros — Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Illinois $66,660
    St. Louis, MO-IL $57,280

    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 Model Makers, Metal and Plastic make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic in Chicago, IL-IN is $32.05, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $33.13 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salaries?

    The median Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 6.3% above the national median of $62,700. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Model Makers, Metal and Plastic in Chicago?

    Entry-level Model Makers, Metal and Plastic (10th percentile) earn around $38,790 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,080.