Industrial Machinery Mechanic Salary in Chicago, IL
Industrial Machinery Mechanics in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $75,800 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,548 take-home, or $4,879 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial machinery mechanic salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,846
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,700
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,099
- Illinois income tax$3,607
- Take-home pay$58,548
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Industrial Machinery Mechanic pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,250 | $23.68 | $39,459 | $3,288 |
| 25th percentile | $61,930 | $29.77 | $49,020 | $4,085 |
| Median (50th) | $75,800 | $36.44 | $58,548 | $4,879 |
| 75th percentile | $91,000 | $43.75 | $68,489 | $5,707 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,590 | $49.32 | $76,069 | $6,339 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,800 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 industrial machinery mechanic's $58,548 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,516 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Industrial Machinery Mechanic jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial machinery mechanics, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 37 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wichita, KS | $83,540 | $63,739 | $71,660 |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | $76,780 | $60,173 | $63,282 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $70,030 | $58,096 | $60,304 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $70,640 | $57,365 | $60,150 |
| 5 | Columbus, OH | $70,410 | $57,210 | $59,925 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $68,770 | $54,915 | $59,340 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $72,680 | $57,489 | $59,305 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $75,850 | $60,503 | $58,561 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $75,800 | $58,548 | $56,516 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 37 metros →
About the job: industrial machinery mechanics
Repair, install, adjust, or maintain industrial production and processing machinery or refinery and pipeline distribution systems. May also install, dismantle, or move machinery and heavy equipment according to plans.
- 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
- +17.8% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial machinery mechanic make in Chicago, IL?
The median industrial machinery mechanic salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $75,800 a year, or about $36.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,930 and $91,000.
What is a industrial machinery mechanic’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $75,800 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $58,548 a year ($4,879 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,607 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a industrial machinery mechanic?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $64,520. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,516 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 37 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial machinery mechanic 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) — 31% of a median industrial machinery mechanic’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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