Baker salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Bakers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $37,230 a year ($17.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 9,920 workers.
Pay ranges from $32,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,610 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $37,160. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $37,030. There are 2.2 bakers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $39,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bakers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,370 | $15.56 |
| 25th percentile | $35,910 | $17.26 |
| Median | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| 75th percentile | $45,100 | $21.68 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,610 | $22.89 |
| Average (mean) | $39,820 | $19.15 |
Half of bakers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,102.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,551.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,431.92 |
| Weekly | $715.96 |
| Hourly | $17.90 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Baker salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $39,840 | 100 |
| Kankakee, IL | $39,570 | 100 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $37,300 | 170 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $36,870 | 1,140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $36,580 | 250 |
| Evansville, IN | $36,490 | 160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $36,430 | 610 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $36,410 | 250 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,280 | 180 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $35,970 | 1,430 |
| Bloomington, IN | $35,900 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $35,870 | 210 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $35,830 | 2,000 |
| Columbus, IN | $35,700 | 40 |
| Kokomo, IN | $34,640 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $34,540 | 160 |
| Peoria, IL | $34,470 | 270 |
| Bloomington, IL | $34,440 | 150 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $34,210 | 250 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $34,090 | 40 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $33,830 | 120 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,950 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for bakers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $46,710 |
| Washington | $46,140 |
| District of Columbia | $44,040 |
| California | $43,120 |
| Colorado | $40,650 |
| Minnesota | $40,210 |
| Wyoming | $40,000 |
| Vermont | $39,980 |
| Alaska | $39,710 |
| Nevada | $39,540 |
See Baker pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Food Batchmaker | $47,660 | $22.91 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Food Processing Workers, All Other | $42,840 | $20.59 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,650 | $25.31 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for bakers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $37,230 a year, or $17.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $32,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bakers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of bakers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $47,610 a year. The top 25% earn $45,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for bakers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $32,370 a year, and a quarter of bakers earn $35,910 or less.
How many bakers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 9,920 bakers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.