Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator Salary in Chicago, IL
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $48,660 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,014 take-home, or $3,251 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer numerically controlled tool operator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,659
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,017
- Medicare (1.45%)$706
- Illinois income tax$2,264
- Take-home pay$39,014
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.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,990 | $18.75 | $31,723 | $2,644 |
| 25th percentile | $42,850 | $20.60 | $34,634 | $2,886 |
| Median (50th) | $48,660 | $23.39 | $39,014 | $3,251 |
| 75th percentile | $61,460 | $29.55 | $48,666 | $4,055 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,840 | $35.50 | $57,266 | $4,772 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $48,660 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 computer numerically controlled tool operator's $39,014 take-home pay has the buying power of $37,661 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for computer numerically controlled tool operators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #67 of 70 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $109,600 | $85,934 | $77,325 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $59,270 | $49,803 | $54,029 |
| 3 | Huntsville, AL | $61,790 | $49,004 | $52,651 |
| 4 | Birmingham, AL | $59,080 | $46,962 | $51,244 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $58,770 | $47,597 | $50,277 |
| 6 | Sioux Falls, SD | $52,220 | $44,139 | $48,702 |
| 7 | Waterloo, IA | $51,600 | $42,332 | $48,625 |
| 8 | Lancaster, PA | $58,970 | $47,752 | $48,599 |
| 67 | Chicago, IL | $48,660 | $39,014 | $37,661 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 70 metros →
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Rockford, IL — $46,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer numerically controlled tool operator make in Chicago, IL?
The median computer numerically controlled tool operator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $48,660 a year, or about $23.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,850 and $61,460.
What is a computer numerically controlled tool operator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $48,660 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,014 a year ($3,251 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,264 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a computer numerically controlled tool operator?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $50,690. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $37,661 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #67 of 70 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator 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) — 47% of a median computer numerically controlled tool operator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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