Prepress Technician and Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Prepress Technicians and Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $49,680 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,784 take-home, or $3,315 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median prepress technician and worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,782
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,080
- Medicare (1.45%)$720
- Illinois income tax$2,314
- Take-home pay$39,784
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.
Prepress Technician and Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,290 | $18.41 | $31,195 | $2,600 |
| 25th percentile | $44,770 | $21.52 | $36,081 | $3,007 |
| Median (50th) | $49,680 | $23.88 | $39,784 | $3,315 |
| 75th percentile | $66,670 | $32.05 | $52,577 | $4,381 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,140 | $37.57 | $60,078 | $5,007 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,680 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 prepress technician and worker's $39,784 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,403 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Prepress Technician and Worker jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.84).
Best-paying cities for prepress technicians and workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $70,670 | $55,399 | $50,879 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $54,590 | $43,692 | $38,816 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $49,680 | $39,784 | $38,403 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $49,130 | $39,839 | $38,006 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $44,980 | $38,321 | $37,173 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $51,380 | $41,664 | $36,687 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $35,810 | $30,953 | $31,384 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a prepress technician and worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median prepress technician and worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,680 a year, or about $23.88 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,770 and $66,670.
What is a prepress technician and worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $49,680 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,784 a year ($3,315 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,314 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a prepress technician and worker?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $48,690. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,403 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a prepress technician and worker 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) — 46% of a median prepress technician and worker’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
- Machinist — $59,520