Salary guide, May 2025
Production 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.
This is what we do all day: recruit manufacturing professionals.
The median annual wage for Production Workers, All Other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $41,250 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $37,600 and $49,750.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $1,140 above the national median of $40,110, both from BLS May 2025.
Broader occupation · SOC 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other
Production 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $34,880 | $37,600 | $41,250 | $49,750 | $60,180 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $16.77 | $18.08 | $19.83 | $23.92 | $28.93 |
BLS estimated 4,810 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.66.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31,200 | $36,030 | $40,110 | $49,010 | $61,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 | $17.32 | $19.29 | $23.56 | $29.58 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Production Technician median is $41,250. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 0.75 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.66 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 | $36,270 | $38,310 | $46,450 |
| May 2025 | $37,600 | $41,250 | $49,750 |
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 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other, 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 51-9199 Production Workers, All Other, 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 | $47,890 | $37,240 to $62,770 |
| Niles, MI | $41,350 | $36,970 to $43,650 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
66 location quotient. The May 2025 BLS release confirms a median annual wage of $41,250, reflecting a 2,940 increase from the May 2024 median of $38,310. With a middle band width of $12,150, the pay structure remains moderate for the majority of workers.
66 location quotient shows that while production is vital to Chicago, it is less concentrated than in other industrial hubs, implying a broader, more distributed labor market.
National manufacturing benchmarks provide a frame of reference: Tobacco Manufacturing at $77,630, Pulp and Paper at $68,720, and Aerospace at $59,620. These national figures are well above the general production technician median, reflecting the specialty expertise in those industries. For local hiring, we advise screening for proficiency in SPC charting, in-process quality assurance, and mechanical troubleshooting beyond basic equipment operation. The MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) is a standard benchmark that serves as a useful proxy for verifying technical talent in the Chicago area.
Comparisons to nearby smaller metros illustrate the diversity of regional pay. Kankakee, IL reports a higher median of $47,890 with a wider middle band width of $25,530. Niles, MI reports a median of $41,350 with a narrow $6,680 middle band width. Chicago's $41,250 median aligns closely with the national mean of $44,380, suggesting the metro's pay scales are fairly representative of broader national production trends. This helps hiring managers create competitive compensation packages that account for the specific costs of labor in the massive Chicago corridor.
Because the SOC 51-9199 title aggregates many production worker roles, managers must realize the data is an average of diverse duties, from simple assembly to complex machinery oversight. Consequently, hiring managers should not consider these numbers as fixed pay ceilings. Your plant-specific requirements, such as the need for advanced troubleshooting or SPC expertise, are better assessed through your internal screening process than by relying solely on broad government datasets. Factoring in non-cash components like shift scheduling and long-term career growth will ensure your offers remain sound and attractive in the diverse and high-cost Chicago industrial sector.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
A $25,530 band width in Kankakee suggests significant disparity in pay for production workers in that smaller market, possibly due to a mix of entry-level and highly skilled specialist roles in the reporting group. Chicago's band is more compressed, implying a more consistent pay structure for the majority.
What does the 2,940 increase in the median represent for my recruiting?
This jump in the median since May 2024 indicates that employers are likely raising starting pay to compete for skilled production labor in Chicago. It reflects a current market trend toward higher compensation for production-related technical work.
Why is the Kankakee middle band width so much larger than Chicago's?
A $25,530 band width in Kankakee suggests significant disparity in pay for production workers in that smaller market, possibly due to a mix of entry-level and highly skilled specialist roles in the reporting group. Chicago's band is more compressed, implying a more consistent pay structure for the majority.
How should I use the national industry medians in my budget planning?
They serve as high-end benchmarks for how much specialized industrial production labor can command nationally. They help you see where high-skill production fits in the broader manufacturing wage structure, even if they don't apply to your specific SOC code.
Related recruiting or pay page · Related wage comparison 1 · Data methodology · Related wage comparison 3 · Related wage comparison 4 · Related wage comparison 5