Salary guide, May 2025
Packaging Operator pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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The median annual wage for Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $75,800 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $61,930 and $91,000.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $11,280 above the national median of $64,520, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics
Packaging 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $49,250 | $61,930 | $75,800 | $91,000 | $102,590 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $23.68 | $29.78 | $36.44 | $43.75 | $49.32 |
BLS estimated 8,710 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.68.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $46,120 | $55,010 | $64,520 | $78,780 | $95,170 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $22.17 | $26.45 | $31.02 | $37.88 | $45.76 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Packaging Operator median is $75,800. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.39 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.68 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 | $61,370 | $76,960 | $87,910 |
| May 2025 | $61,930 | $75,800 | $91,000 |
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 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics, 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 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics, 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 | $62,410 | $58,410 to $68,430 |
| Niles, MI | $63,230 | $54,230 to $71,830 |