Salary guide, May 2025
Operations Manager 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 Industrial Production Managers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $129,840 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $103,990 and $165,090.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $3,780 above the national median of $126,060, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $86,490 | $103,990 | $129,840 | $165,090 | $216,720 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $41.58 | $50.00 | $62.43 | $79.37 | $104.19 |
BLS estimated 8,850 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.24.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $78,000 | $98,160 | $126,060 | $161,880 | $205,520 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $37.50 | $47.19 | $60.61 | $77.83 | $98.81 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Operations Manager median is $129,840. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 2.37 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.24 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 | $100,760 | $123,120 | $155,250 |
| May 2025 | $103,990 | $129,840 | $165,090 |
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 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers, 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 11-3051 Industrial Production Managers, 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 | $124,070 | $100,700 to $146,590 |
| Niles, MI | $109,470 | $85,120 to $136,320 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area reports employment of 8850 for Industrial Production Managers, SOC 11-3051. 24, showing a higher concentration of the role compared to the national baseline. For Operations Manager in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $129,840; the May 2024 median is $123,120. Their arithmetic difference is $6,720.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
The middle-band width for this occupation in Chicago is 61100, stretching from a P25 of $103,990 to a P75 of $165,090. This internal band is narrower than the national equivalent in some aspects but indicates clear salary tiers. The national median for this role is $126,060, placing the Chicago median above the national standard. When compared to Kankakee, IL, which sits at $124,070, and Niles, MI, at $109,470, the Chicago market maintains a stronger compensation profile. National industry benchmarks show Petroleum and Coal Products at $155,730 and Iron and Steel at $145,280, providing a ceiling reference for specialized manufacturing roles.
For Operations Manager 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. The BLS classification remains broad, covering various industrial settings without specific adjustment for unique plant duties like managing complex lean tools or shift-heavy staffing. For Operations Manager in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $129,840; the May 2024 median is $123,120. Their arithmetic difference is $6,720. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. These figures are based on the broader occupation across all industries in the metro, not just manufacturing firms.
Industrial production leadership in Chicago requires mastery of KPI boards and production scheduling. While the provided median is higher than previous reports, the wide P25 to P75 range confirms that pay is heavily dependent on specific responsibilities within the plant. Always use the provided arithmetic for band width and change without modification, as the BLS does not provide adjusted regional industry-specific wages. Use these national industry figures as a secondary indicator rather than a replacement for local occupational data.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The middle-band width of 61100 defines the middle half of the salary distribution. For Operations Manager in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $103,990 to $165,090 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity.
Does this data reflect specific manufacturing industry pay in Chicago?
No, the reported figures cover all industries within the Chicago metro area. It is a broad occupational measurement, not a sector-specific survey.
How should I interpret the P25 and P75 figures for budget planning?
The middle-band width of 61100 defines the middle half of the salary distribution. For Operations Manager in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $103,990 to $165,090 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.
Why is the Niles, MI, median so much lower than Chicago?
Niles reflects a different local labor market concentration and economic scale within the regional comparison. Wage variation is expected between major urban hubs and smaller manufacturing-focused satellite cities.
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