Salary guide, May 2025
Production Welder (MIG) 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 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $52,650 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $46,270 and $61,750.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $1,100 below the national median of $53,750, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
Production Welder (MIG) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,130 | $46,270 | $52,650 | $61,750 | $74,450 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.81 | $22.24 | $25.31 | $29.69 | $35.79 |
BLS estimated 9,320 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 0.77.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $39,240 | $46,790 | $53,750 | $63,010 | $77,530 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18.87 | $22.50 | $25.84 | $30.29 | $37.28 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Production Welder (MIG) median is $52,650. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 0.96 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 0.77 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 | $44,200 | $50,700 | $59,960 |
| May 2025 | $46,270 | $52,650 | $61,750 |
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 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, 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 51-4121 Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers, 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 | $47,460 | $40,490 to $58,590 |
| Niles, MI | $49,040 | $45,880 to $58,400 |
National page · Production Welder (MIG) ranked across metros
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, the median annual salary for a Production Welder (MIG) is $52,650. For Production Welder (MIG) in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $52,650; the May 2024 median is $50,700. Their arithmetic difference is $1,950.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. The middle-band width is $15,480, defined by a P25 of $46,270 and a P75 of $61,750. As this role is mapped to SOC 51-4121, Manufacturing Headhunters notes that the data aggregates diverse welding processes and plant environments. Because BLS does not distinguish between these, candidates must be assessed individually for their ability to read prints and handle GMAW or FCAW duties.
The Chicago metro’s median salary is lower than the national median of $53,750. The national middle-band width of $16,220 is slightly wider than the local band. Nationally, Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing reports a median wage of $99,570, while Chemical Manufacturing is $76,240. For Production Welder (MIG) 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. These items are standard in manufacturing compensation and are not accounted for in these annual medians.
The Chicago metro area reports 9,320 in employment with a location quotient of 0.77. Nearby, the Kankakee, IL area reports a median of $47,460, and Niles, MI reports $49,040. The concentration of welders in Chicago is below the national baseline. Candidates for these roles are typically screened through AWS D1.1 or internal weld tests, confirming the technical requirements for the position. Hiring managers should use these figures to gauge baseline pay while incorporating their own compensation policies to account for factors like specialized production demands and industry-specific benefits.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Is the median pay for welders in Chicago keeping pace with the national average?
At $52,650, the local median is lower than the $53,750 national figure. The Chicago area maintains a slightly lower pay profile for this occupation compared to the broader U.S. data.
What does the location quotient of 0.77 signify?
A location quotient of 0.77 means that the concentration of welders in Chicago is roughly 23% lower than the national concentration. This implies a lower employment density relative to the total workforce.
How should I interpret the P25 and P75 values?
The P25 and P75 values represent the lower and upper bounds of the middle 50% of earners. They indicate the spread of compensation for these workers, excluding the extremes of the pay distribution.
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