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.
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 #90 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 90 | 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 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $51,680
- Rockford, IL — $49,700
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 #90 of 115 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
- Power Plant Operator — $123,540
- Stationary Engineer and Boiler Operator — $115,780
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers — $111,370
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $79,290
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $76,500
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmer — $69,400
- Structural Metal Fabricator and Fitter — $68,280
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $63,360
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operator and Tender — $63,170
- Chemical Equipment Operator and Tender — $61,250
- Tool and Die Maker — $61,180
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $59,020