Machinists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,680 a year or less, while the top 10% make $78,990 or more. The middle half of machinists in Chicago earn between $47,770 and $68,260.
- $39K10th
- $48K25th
- $60KMedian
- $68K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,510 | $5,042 | $29.09 |
| Median | $59,520 | $4,960 | $28.62 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,770 | $3,981 | $22.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,260 | $5,688 | $32.82 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Machinists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($58,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $60,510 | $59,520 | $38,680 | $78,990 | 11,270 |
| Illinois | $58,920 | $58,520 | $38,390 | $78,290 | 16,520 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $60,510, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $47,946 a year, or $3,995 a month and $1,844 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $49,014 | $4,085 |
| Working in IL | $47,946 | $3,995 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for machinists? 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 $60,510 buys what about $58,410 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($66,060).
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Chicago?
$29.09 an hour on average, and $28.62 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,680 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $47,946 a year ($3,995 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $60,510.
Do machinists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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