Millwright salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Millwrights in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $74,730 a year ($35.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,490 workers.
Pay ranges from $48,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,590 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $65,700. Pay here is 12% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $66,640. There are 0.33 millwrights per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $76,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for millwrights in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| 25th percentile | $53,800 | $25.86 |
| Median | $74,730 | $35.93 |
| 75th percentile | $93,610 | $45.00 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,590 | $55.09 |
| Average (mean) | $76,530 | $36.79 |
Half of millwrights 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 | $6,227.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,113.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,874.23 |
| Weekly | $1,437.12 |
| Hourly | $35.93 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Millwright salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Wayne, IN | $91,410 | 110 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $79,420 | 390 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $76,300 | 490 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $75,650 | 250 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $72,450 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $67,750 | 30 |
| Rockford, IL | $66,560 | 60 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $66,480 | 420 |
| Decatur, IL | $63,190 | 180 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,870 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,260 | 80 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $60,260 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for millwrights
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $107,540 |
| New Mexico | $90,230 |
| Michigan | $89,190 |
| Wisconsin | $82,630 |
| Colorado | $81,440 |
| Kansas | $79,690 |
| New York | $79,560 |
| Minnesota | $78,570 |
| California | $77,950 |
| Indiana | $77,140 |
See Millwright pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $58,020 | $27.90 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | $75,800 | $36.44 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $77,960 | $37.48 |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other | $56,900 | $27.36 |
| Medical Equipment Repairer | $68,580 | $32.97 |
| Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers | $123,430 | $59.34 |
| Coin, Vending, and Amusement Machine Servicers and Repairers | $45,560 | $21.90 |
| Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | $79,590 | $38.26 |
| Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | $38,730 | $18.62 |
| Home Appliance Repairer | $59,750 | $28.73 |
| Maintenance Workers, Machinery | $48,760 | $23.44 |
| Locksmiths and Safe Repairers | $58,110 | $27.94 |
| Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | $64,220 | $30.87 |
| Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | $58,170 | $27.97 |
More: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 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 49-9044. 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 millwright make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for millwrights in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $74,730 a year, or $35.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $48,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,590 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid millwrights make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of millwrights in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $114,590 a year. The top 25% earn $93,610 or more.
What is the starting pay for millwrights in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $48,230 a year, and a quarter of millwrights earn $53,800 or less.
How many millwrights work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,490 millwrights are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.