Machinist Salary in Chicago, IL
Machinists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $59,520 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,203 take-home, or $3,934 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,962
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,690
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- Illinois income tax$2,801
- Take-home pay$47,203
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Machinist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,680 | $18.60 | $31,490 | $2,624 |
| 25th percentile | $47,770 | $22.97 | $38,343 | $3,195 |
| Median (50th) | $59,520 | $28.62 | $47,203 | $3,934 |
| 75th percentile | $68,260 | $32.82 | $53,617 | $4,468 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,990 | $37.98 | $60,634 | $5,053 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,520 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median machinist's $47,203 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,565 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.4× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #17 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $74,560 | $61,283 | $55,144 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | $62,210 | $50,179 | $52,771 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $61,280 | $51,418 | $52,133 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $72,060 | $56,141 | $51,855 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $58,240 | $48,157 | $51,272 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $62,900 | $49,918 | $50,967 |
| 7 | Hartford, CT | $64,320 | $51,892 | $50,505 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $60,320 | $48,774 | $50,315 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $59,520 | $47,203 | $45,565 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
About the job: machinists
Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures. Machinists who primarily program or operate computer numerically controlled (CNC) equipment are classified in "Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators and Programmers" (51-9160).
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Chicago, IL?
The median machinist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59,520 a year, or about $28.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,770 and $68,260.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $59,520 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $47,203 a year ($3,934 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,801 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,565 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #17 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 39% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,500
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,250
- Tool and Die Maker — $61,180
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $59,020
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $52,650
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $50,770
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $50,230
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $48,910
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $48,660
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $48,230
- Food Batchmaker — $47,660
- Printing Press Operator — $46,580