Salary guide, May 2025
Packaging Technician 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.
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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 Technician 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 Technician 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 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
Manufacturing Headhunters reviews the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Packaging Technician market under the SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics occupational classification. While this classification covers filler and capper technicians, it also aggregates broader mechanical maintenance roles across diverse industries. S. national median of $64,520.
Manufacturing Headhunters reviews the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Packaging Technician market under the SOC 49-9041 Industrial Machinery Mechanics occupational classification. While this classification covers filler and capper technicians, it also aggregates broader mechanical maintenance roles across diverse industries. The local median of $75,800 is higher than the U.S. national median of $64,520. The Chicago middle-band width is $29,070, which is significantly wider than the national band width of $23,770.
For Packaging Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $75,800; the May 2024 median is $76,960. Their arithmetic difference is -$1,160. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. Employers should use national manufacturing indicators. such as Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing at $94,200. only as high-end market references rather than local performance metrics. For Packaging Technician 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 lack of specific plant-level metrics means that seniority, process familiarity, and certifications are not captured in these broad occupational statistics.
Data from surrounding areas such as Kankakee, IL, with a median of $62,410, and Niles, MI, at $63,230, helps round out the regional labor market view. With a location quotient of 0.68, the Chicago area shows a moderate density of mechanical maintenance positions. Because the SOC definition is broad, hiring managers should exercise discretion by balancing these salary figures against their specific technical requirements, such as PMMI certification or advanced changeover proficiency, which can significantly influence actual labor costs in the Chicago market.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
For Packaging Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $75,800; the May 2024 median is $76,960. Their arithmetic difference is -$1,160. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause.
How does the Chicago median compare to the national average?
This difference reflects the regional cost and demand factors for mechanical maintenance roles in the Chicago area.
Does the median change of -$1,160 reflect a reduction in pay for technicians?
For Packaging Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $75,800; the May 2024 median is $76,960. Their arithmetic difference is -$1,160. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. It does not necessarily represent a pay cut for existing roles but reflects the broader mechanical mechanic labor market adjustment.
What factors are missing from this wage data?
For Packaging Technician 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.
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