Salary guide, May 2025
Plant Controller 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 Financial Managers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $168,810 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $131,120 and $220,150.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $2,240 above the national median of $166,570, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3031 Financial 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $103,490 | $131,120 | $168,810 | $220,150 | $321,200 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $49.75 | $63.04 | $81.16 | $105.84 | $154.42 |
BLS estimated 41,590 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 1.7.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $94,310 | $125,490 | $166,570 | $219,980 | $323,270 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $45.34 | $60.33 | $80.08 | $105.76 | $155.42 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Plant Controller median is $168,810. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 3.08 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 1.7 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 | $127,200 | $164,470 | $215,320 |
| May 2025 | $131,120 | $168,810 | $220,150 |
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 11-3031 Financial 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 11-3031 Financial 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 | $127,470 | $95,740 to $161,260 |
| Niles, MI | $127,650 | $97,440 to $169,300 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
7. For Plant Controller in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $168,810; the May 2024 median is $164,470. Their arithmetic difference is $4,340. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width for this area is 89,030.
Manufacturing Headhunters notes that these professionals manage critical tasks like overhead absorption, standard cost builds, and regulatory compliance. The broader BLS occupation includes various senior financial roles, which may differ from the specific responsibilities of a site-based controller.
In comparison, the national median wage for Financial Managers is $166,570, with a middle-band width of 94,490. Chicago’s median is higher than the national level. National industry-specific medians for the manufacturing sector are notably higher, with Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing at $210,870, Tobacco Manufacturing at $209,700, and Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing at $196,090. These national rows represent industry-wide averages and are not restricted by local geography.
The surrounding areas of Kankakee, IL and Niles, MI show different wage levels. Kankakee reports a median of $127,470, while Niles reports a median of $127,650. Both areas show lower median wages than the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro. The middle-band widths for these locations are 65,520 for Kankakee and 71,860 for Niles. For Plant Controller 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?
Is the Chicago median wage consistent with national industry standards?
The Chicago median of $168,810 is higher than the national occupational median of $166,570. Specific manufacturing industries report higher median wages at the national level, illustrating sectoral differences.
How do the comparison metros relate to Chicago's wage profile?
Both Kankakee and Niles report lower median wages compared to the Chicago metro. These differences may stem from varying labor demand and concentration in the surrounding regions.
Are bonuses included in these reported median figures?
For Plant Controller 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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