Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary
in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
- Middle 50%
- $37,500–$48,940
- vs U.S. median
- -12%
- Metro rank
- #27 of 34
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro earn a median of $38,830 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,870 jobs (May 2025). That is 12% below the U.S. median of $43,960 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $38,620. It ranks #27 of 34 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE1,870 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Questions
What is the average Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic salary in Chicago?
The BLS median is $38,830 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,870 jobs pay between $37,500 and $48,940. The 10th percentile is $36,280 and the 90th is $51,280.
Is Chicago a high-paying metro for Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?
That is 12% below the U.S. median of $43,960 and 1% above the IL statewide median of $38,620. It ranks #27 of 34 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic make an hour in Chicago?
About $18.67 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $38,830 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $18.03–$23.53 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.