Salary guide, May 2025
First Article Inspector pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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The median annual wage for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $48,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $41,620 and $60,340.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $340 below the national median of $48,570, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
First Article Inspector 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,370 | $41,620 | $48,230 | $60,340 | $77,320 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.49 | $20.01 | $23.19 | $29.01 | $37.18 |
BLS estimated 23,080 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.33.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,510 | $39,890 | $48,570 | $61,440 | $77,860 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17.07 | $19.18 | $23.35 | $29.54 | $37.44 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published First Article Inspector median is $48,230. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 0.88 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.33 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 | $39,130 | $47,330 | $59,010 |
| May 2025 | $41,620 | $48,230 | $60,340 |
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 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, 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 51-9061 Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Kankakee, IL | $48,880 | $43,370 to $60,830 |
| Niles, MI | $43,870 | $37,440 to $51,040 |
National page · First Article Inspector ranked across metros