Packers and Packagers, Hand salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Packers and Packagers, Hand in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $36,180 a year ($17.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 17,960 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,420 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $36,280. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $36,090. There are 4.0 packers and packagers, hand per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for packers and packagers, hand in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,570 | $15.18 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 |
| Median | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| 75th percentile | $40,580 | $19.51 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| Average (mean) | $38,570 | $18.54 |
Half of packers and packagers, hand 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 | $3,015 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,507.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,391.54 |
| Weekly | $695.77 |
| Hourly | $17.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Packers and Packagers, Hand salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $38,570 | 30 |
| Evansville, IN | $38,100 | 370 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $37,900 | 640 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $37,500 | 2,280 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $37,280 | 2,690 |
| Peoria, IL | $37,050 | 550 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $37,040 | 3,330 |
| Columbus, IN | $36,880 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $36,650 | 3,570 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $36,630 | 950 |
| Bloomington, IN | $36,480 | 220 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $36,100 | 190 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $35,790 | 310 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,740 | 80 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $35,490 | 160 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $35,150 | 350 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $35,020 | 650 |
| Rockford, IL | $34,830 | 760 |
| Springfield, IL | $33,410 | 160 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $32,830 | 90 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,370 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $32,270 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,730 | 100 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,750 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for packers and packagers, hand
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Kansas | $44,460 |
| New Jersey | $43,840 |
| Alaska | $41,670 |
| District of Columbia | $40,910 |
| Colorado | $40,730 |
| Minnesota | $40,310 |
| Vermont | $39,440 |
| Washington | $39,220 |
| Nebraska | $38,880 |
| Missouri | $37,670 |
See Packers and Packagers, Hand pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $77,470 | $37.24 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $55,890 | $26.87 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | $118,210 | $56.83 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $45,570 | $21.91 |
| Material Moving Workers, All Other | $39,870 | $19.17 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving 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 53-7064. 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 packers and packagers, hand make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for packers and packagers, hand in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,180 a year, or $17.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $47,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid packers and packagers, hand make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of packers and packagers, hand in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $47,420 a year. The top 25% earn $40,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for packers and packagers, hand in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,570 a year, and a quarter of packers and packagers, hand earn $34,840 or less.
How many packers and packagers, hand work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 17,960 packers and packagers, hand are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.