Salary guide, May 2025
Millwright 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 Millwrights in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $74,730 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $53,800 and $93,610.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $9,030 above the national median of $65,700, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 49-9044 Millwrights
The Millwright 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $48,230 | $53,800 | $74,730 | $93,610 | $114,590 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $23.19 | $25.86 | $35.93 | $45.00 | $55.09 |
BLS estimated 1,490 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.27.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,290 | $56,390 | $65,700 | $81,500 | $93,600 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.25 | $27.11 | $31.59 | $39.18 | $45.00 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Millwright median is $74,730. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.37 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.27 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 | $62,150 | $83,180 | $111,090 |
| May 2025 | $53,800 | $74,730 | $93,610 |
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 49-9044 Millwrights, 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 49-9044 Millwrights, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $66,560 | $40,580 to $83,680 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $84,850 | $73,850 to $89,560 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
For Millwright in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $74,730; the May 2024 median is $83,180. Their arithmetic difference is -$8,450. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. For Millwright in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation.
The published middle interval is $53,800 to $93,610 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them. This range captures the compensation for essential tasks such as precision machinery moves, laser alignment, and structural support. Manufacturing Headhunters utilizes these data points to assist local manufacturers in benchmarking their maintenance compensation structures without the influence of anecdotal market hype.
In comparison to the national market, the U.S. median for millwrights (SOC 49-9044) is $65,700, with a middle-band width of $25,110. The Chicago median remains notably higher than this national benchmark, suggesting that the local cost of labor and market demand for specialized mechanical support in the Chicago area remains elevated compared to the country at large. National manufacturing industry data provides additional perspective: aerospace parts manufacture pays $92,420, while motor vehicle assembly pays $91,710. These national industry figures are benchmarks and should not be confused with local occupational wages.
Analyzing nearby metros, the Rockford area shows a median of $66,560 and a wide middle-band width of $43,100, reflecting extreme variance in local millwright wages. The Milwaukee-Waukesha area presents a higher median of $84,850 with a middle-band width of $15,710. The Chicago location quotient of 1.27 indicates a higher concentration of millwright employment than the national average, suggesting a sound manufacturing infrastructure. Hiring managers in Chicago should consider these figures as general indicators of supply-side market pressures. For Millwright 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.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
What can I conclude from the two release estimates?
The change indicates a downward shift in the median salary, likely reflecting changes in the mix of reporting employers or local economic adjustments. It highlights that market wages for millwrights can fluctuate annually based on the industry's reporting patterns.
How does the Chicago middle-band width compare to the national middle-band width?
The Chicago middle-band width is $39,810, which is significantly wider than the national middle-band width of $25,110. This implies that there is more compensation variance for millwright roles within the Chicago area than across the country overall.
Does the 1.27 location quotient imply that there are enough qualified candidates in Chicago?
No, the location quotient measures the concentration of millwrights as a share of total employment. It does not measure the availability, skill level, or recruitment difficulty of candidates for these roles.
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