SOC 51-4081 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, IL

The average salary for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago, Illinois is $45,220 a year ($21.74 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $45,030: half of the 5,460 people in this job in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,030).

$45,220average per year

$21.74 / hourMedian $45,030Take-home ≈ $36,417

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $45KMedian
  • $47K75th
  • $59K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

5,460people in this job
-10%vs U.S. average
#3 of 3Illinois metros
104cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Chicago

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $58,930 or more. The middle half of multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago earn between $38,070 and $47,380.

  • $36K10th
  • $38K25th
  • $45KMedian
  • $47K75th
  • $59K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$45,220$3,768$21.74
Median$45,030$3,752$21.65
Entry level (25th percentile)$38,070$3,172$18.30
Experienced (75th percentile)$47,380$3,948$22.78

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.

Multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($45,540) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($50,030). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $47,180.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Chicago$45,220$45,030$36,000$58,9305,460
Illinois$45,540$44,350$34,950$58,9306,090
United States$50,030$47,180$35,780$74,450124,590

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary after taxes in Chicago

On the average salary of $45,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $36,417 a year, or $3,035 a month and $1,401 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in IN$37,188$3,099
Working in IL$36,417$3,035

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).

Illinois paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Chicago a good place for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $45,220 buys what about $43,651 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $45,220 is worth in another city

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in other Illinois cities

Chicago ranks 3rd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($49,490).

All Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salaries in Illinois

Highest-paying cities for multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Dallas, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($67,500).

Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city

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Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago: questions

How much do multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic make an hour in Chicago?

$21.74 an hour on average, and $21.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic salary in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,070, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic take-home pay in Chicago?

About $36,417 a year ($3,035 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,220.

Do multiple machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?

The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,030).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-4081; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
  • Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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