Food Batchmaker Salary in Chicago, IL
Food Batchmakers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $47,660 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,260 take-home, or $3,188 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median food batchmaker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,539
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,955
- Medicare (1.45%)$691
- Illinois income tax$2,214
- Take-home pay$38,260
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.
Food Batchmaker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,760 | $16.71 | $28,534 | $2,378 |
| 25th percentile | $39,250 | $18.87 | $31,919 | $2,660 |
| Median (50th) | $47,660 | $22.91 | $38,260 | $3,188 |
| 75th percentile | $57,090 | $27.45 | $45,371 | $3,781 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,440 | $29.54 | $48,651 | $4,054 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,660 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 food batchmaker's $38,260 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,933 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 1.7× the national concentration of food batchmaker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for food batchmakers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #30 of 78 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $77,920 | $61,338 | $68,947 |
| 2 | Decatur, IL | $57,880 | $45,966 | $51,985 |
| 3 | Topeka, KS | $56,390 | $45,142 | $50,825 |
| 4 | Lexington, KY | $56,730 | $45,895 | $49,408 |
| 5 | Sheboygan, WI | $51,490 | $42,068 | $44,746 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $52,000 | $42,455 | $44,648 |
| 7 | Appleton, WI | $49,390 | $40,473 | $43,793 |
| 8 | Green Bay, WI | $48,850 | $40,063 | $43,038 |
| 30 | Chicago, IL | $47,660 | $38,260 | $36,933 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 78 metros →
Food Batchmaker salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Decatur, IL — $57,880
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food batchmaker make in Chicago, IL?
The median food batchmaker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,660 a year, or about $22.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,250 and $57,090.
What is a food batchmaker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $47,660 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $38,260 a year ($3,188 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,214 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a food batchmaker?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $42,290. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,933 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #30 of 78 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a food batchmaker 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) — 48% of a median food batchmaker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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