Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $59,890 or more. The middle half of photographic process workers and processing machine operators in Chicago earn between $31,200 and $42,900.
- $31K10th
- $31K25th
- $38KMedian
- $43K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $41,740 | $3,478 | $20.07 |
| Median | $37,940 | $3,162 | $18.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,200 | $2,600 | $15.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,900 | $3,575 | $20.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $41,740, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $33,793 a year, or $2,816 a month and $1,300 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:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $34,496 | $2,875 |
| Working in IL | $33,793 | $2,816 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for photographic process workers and processing machine operators? 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 $41,740 buys what about $40,292 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$43,510
- Muncie, IN$37,130
- Detroit, MI$45,170
- St. Louis, MO$40,300
- Columbus, OH$40,000
- Cleveland, OH$30,380
Highest-paying cities for photographic process workers and processing machine operators
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($62,500).
- New York, NY$62,500
- San Jose, CA$62,380
- Seattle, WA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$58,940
- Los Angeles, CA$56,850
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary by city
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators salary in Chicago: questions
How much do photographic process workers and processing machine operators make an hour in Chicago?
$20.07 an hour on average, and $18.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level photographic process workers and processing machine operators salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,200, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the photographic process workers and processing machine operators take-home pay in Chicago?
About $33,793 a year ($2,816 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $41,740.
Do photographic process workers and processing machine operators earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($51,524).
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 51-9151; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.5%.
- 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).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.