Plant and System Operators, All Other Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

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

Median annual salary $67,720 +9.7% vs national
Median hourly $32.56
10th percentile $51,110
90th percentile $79,560
Employed locally 110
National median $61,710

Compare Plant and System Operators, All Other salary & buying power

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Plant and System Operators, All Other
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $51,110
    25th
    $51,670
    50th (median)
    $67,720
    75th
    $77,060
    90th
    $79,560

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Plant and System Operators, All Other salary vs area income 76% Median Plant and System Operators, All Other salary is 24% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Plant and System Operators, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $87,980
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $85,590
    Duluth, MN-WI $85,510
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $85,300
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $84,840
    Billings, MT $83,530

    Nearby metros — Plant and System Operators, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Billings, MT $83,530
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $78,770
    Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $77,290
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $71,240
    Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $68,580
    St. Louis, MO-IL $66,150

    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 Plant and System Operators, All Other make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Plant and System Operators, All Other in Chicago, IL-IN is $32.56, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $40.54 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Plant and System Operators, All Other salaries?

    The median Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 9.7% above the national median of $61,710. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Plant and System Operators, All Other in Chicago?

    Entry-level Plant and System Operators, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $51,110 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $51,670.