Salary guide, May 2025
CNC Programmer pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $69,400 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $61,150 and $82,080.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $1,280 above the national median of $68,120, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers
The CNC Programmer title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $53,980 | $61,150 | $69,400 | $82,080 | $96,130 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $25.95 | $29.40 | $33.36 | $39.46 | $46.22 |
BLS estimated 800 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.97.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $47,530 | $58,270 | $68,120 | $81,890 | $100,320 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.85 | $28.01 | $32.75 | $39.37 | $48.23 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published CNC Programmer median is $69,400. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.27 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.97 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 | $60,210 | $66,870 | $81,030 |
| May 2025 | $61,150 | $69,400 | $82,080 |
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 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, 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 51-9162 Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Niles, MI | $60,850 | $58,130 to $72,650 |
| Rockford, IL | $64,370 | $57,760 to $73,560 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters examines the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN market, which employs 800 CNC programmers. This role requires familiarity with CAM software like machining CAM software, integrated CAD/CAM CAM, and machining CAM software to generate multi-axis toolpaths and setup sheets. The Chicago median wage is $69,400, and the middle band width is $20,930.
This is lower than the national middle band width of $23,620. National industry rows show medians of $97,710 for Aerospace, $90,380 for Food Manufacturing, and $86,190 for Dairy Product Manufacturing. These are national industry-specific figures and are provided for context. They do not reflect the local pay for this occupation and exclude benefits or variable performance-based pay.
For CNC Programmer in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $69,400; the May 2024 median is $66,870. Their arithmetic difference is $2,530. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Chicago has a location quotient of 0.97, meaning the employment concentration of this role is very close to the national average. Nearby comparison metros include Niles, MI, with a median of $60,850, and Rockford, IL, with a median of $64,370. These cities are key employment hubs for the industry. The Chicago median of $69,400 is higher than both comparison hubs, showing that Chicago attracts a higher wage for CNC programming talent compared to these surrounding areas.
With a mean wage of $72,820, the Chicago market shows a slightly positive skew compared to the median. The middle band width of $20,930 suggests that the bulk of the talent is compensated within a moderate range. Hiring managers should note that BLS data aggregates all employer types, meaning proprietary internal systems and plant-specific setup duties are not broken out. For CNC Programmer in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, OEWS measures straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Commissions and production bonuses are included; overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits are excluded. It provides a baseline for current market conditions in the Chicago industrial sector.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For CNC Programmer in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $69,400; the May 2024 median is $66,870. Their arithmetic difference is $2,530. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
How does the Chicago location quotient compare to the national average?
The location quotient is 0.97, which indicates that the employment concentration of CNC programmers in Chicago is nearly equal to the national average.
What can I conclude from the two release estimates?
For CNC Programmer in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $69,400; the May 2024 median is $66,870. Their arithmetic difference is $2,530. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
Are the national industry medians suitable for setting local Chicago wages?
No, the national industry rows, such as Aerospace or Food Manufacturing, are national benchmarks. They do not represent local wage conditions in the Chicago market.
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