Machinist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Machinists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $59,520 a year ($28.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 11,270 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,990 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $58,750. Pay here is 2% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $58,520. There are 2.5 machinists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $60,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for machinists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Median | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| 75th percentile | $68,260 | $32.82 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,990 | $37.98 |
| Average (mean) | $60,510 | $29.09 |
Half of machinists 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 | $4,960 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,480 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,289.23 |
| Weekly | $1,144.62 |
| Hourly | $28.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Machinist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $62,220 | 720 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $62,210 | 5,620 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,710 | 600 |
| Columbus, IN | $61,230 | 1,470 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,500 | 990 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $60,300 | 100 |
| Springfield, IL | $59,340 | 90 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $58,910 | 100 |
| Evansville, IN | $58,410 | 190 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $57,300 | 2,890 |
| Decatur, IL | $56,980 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $54,160 | 240 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $53,770 | 1,030 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $51,990 | 630 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $51,700 | 140 |
| Peoria, IL | $51,680 | 500 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $50,610 | 3,540 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $49,910 | 590 |
| Rockford, IL | $49,700 | 1,800 |
| Muncie, IN | $48,360 | 150 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $48,160 | 100 |
| Kankakee, IL | $47,930 | 100 |
| Bloomington, IN | $47,850 | 540 |
| Kokomo, IN | $45,200 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for machinists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $84,410 |
| Alaska | $77,670 |
| District of Columbia | $72,900 |
| Massachusetts | $67,270 |
| Washington | $66,160 |
| Oregon | $63,820 |
| New Jersey | $63,190 |
| Wyoming | $63,070 |
| Vermont | $62,680 |
| Delaware | $62,650 |
See Machinist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 51-4041. 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 machinist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for machinists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59,520 a year, or $28.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,680 for the lowest-paid 10% to $78,990 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid machinists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of machinists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $78,990 a year. The top 25% earn $68,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for machinists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,680 a year, and a quarter of machinists earn $47,770 or less.
How many machinists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 11,270 machinists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.