Salary guide, May 2025
Chemical Operator pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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The median annual wage for Chemical Plant and System Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $65,750 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $57,860 and $74,770.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $12,370 below the national median of $78,120, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators
Chemical Operator is shown within the broader published occupation. BLS does not separate this plant-specific title, seniority, shift, process or credential. Compare the duties with the SOC definition before using the range.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,630 | $57,860 | $65,750 | $74,770 | $83,690 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.90 | $27.82 | $31.61 | $35.95 | $40.24 |
BLS estimated 110 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.23.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,400 | $60,330 | $78,120 | $98,660 | $111,930 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $23.27 | $29.01 | $37.56 | $47.44 | $53.81 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Chemical Operator median is $65,750. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.20 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.23 measures how concentrated this occupation's employment is here against the nation. It is not a wage index.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $58,340 | $67,500 | $74,170 |
| May 2025 | $57,860 | $65,750 | $74,770 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 51-8091 Chemical Plant and System Operators, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,330 | $52,290 to $58,430 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $69,710 | $62,080 to $79,670 |