SOC 51-4023 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro

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

The average salary for rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago, Illinois is $54,060 a year ($25.99 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $49,850: half of the 1,300 people in this job in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($53,220).

$54,060average per year

$25.99 / hourMedian $49,850Take-home ≈ $43,082

  • $45K10th
  • $45K25th
  • $50KMedian
  • $64K75th
  • $65K90th

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

1,300people in this job
+2%vs U.S. average
#1 of 2Illinois metros
104cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic pay range in Chicago

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,120 or more. The middle half of rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago earn between $45,430 and $63,790.

  • $45K10th
  • $45K25th
  • $50KMedian
  • $64K75th
  • $65K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$54,060$4,505$25.99
Median$49,850$4,154$23.97
Entry level (25th percentile)$45,430$3,786$21.84
Experienced (75th percentile)$63,790$5,316$30.67

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

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

Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($53,580) and about the same as the U.S. average ($53,220). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $50,140.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Chicago$54,060$49,850$45,230$65,1201,300
Illinois$53,580$54,180$37,360$62,980550
United States$53,220$50,140$37,690$70,31025,250

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

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

On the average salary of $54,060, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $43,082 a year, or $3,590 a month and $1,657 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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$44,025$3,669
Working in IL$43,082$3,590

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 rolling machine 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 $54,060 buys what about $52,184 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.5 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $54,060 is worth in another city

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

Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

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

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

Decatur, AL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($88,880).

Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary by city

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

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

$25.99 an hour on average, and $23.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

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

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,430, a fair guide to starting pay.

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

About $43,082 a year ($3,590 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $54,060.

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

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($53,220).

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 51-4023; 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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