Salary guide, May 2025
Tool and Die Maker 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 Tool and Die Makers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN was $61,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $47,150 and $74,720.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is $2,870 below the national median of $64,050, both from BLS May 2025.
Direct match · SOC 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers
The Tool and Die Maker title maps to the published occupation. The duties align, but BLS combines employers and industries.
What should you know about chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,010 | $47,150 | $61,180 | $74,720 | $83,050 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $19.24 | $22.67 | $29.41 | $35.92 | $39.93 |
BLS estimated 3,750 workers employed in this occupation in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Location quotient: 2.27.
What should you know about united States?
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $44,680 | $51,490 | $64,050 | $78,770 | $92,680 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $21.48 | $24.75 | $30.79 | $37.87 | $44.56 |
What should you know about role pay against all occupations here?
The published Tool and Die Maker median is $61,180. The all-occupations median in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $54,720. Ratio: 1.12 (role median divided by all-occupations median, same units, BLS May 2025). Location quotient 2.27 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 | $49,570 | $61,580 | $77,240 |
| May 2025 | $47,150 | $61,180 | $74,720 |
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 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, 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 51-4111 Tool and Die Makers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
What should you know about nearby areas?
| Area | Median | 25th to 75th |
|---|---|---|
| Niles, MI | $61,690 | $47,940 to $70,720 |
| Kenosha, WI | $62,550 | $59,120 to $76,600 |
What does this data mean for your opening?
In the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN market, Tool and Die Makers report a median annual wage of $61,180. For Tool and Die Maker in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $61,180; the May 2024 median is $61,580. Their arithmetic difference is -$400.
They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. For Tool and Die Maker in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $47,150 to $74,720 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them. For Tool and Die Maker 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.
Manufacturing Headhunters finds the Chicago market maintains a locationQuotient of 2.27, which indicates a sound concentration of tool and die activity relative to the national average. For Tool and Die Maker in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, percentiles describe the wage distribution of the mapped occupation. The published middle interval is $47,150 to $74,720 annually. They do not assign pay to plant size, seniority, credentials or job complexity. Assess duties and candidate requirements separately; these rows do not measure a premium for them. The local median of $61,180 currently tracks slightly below the U.S. average. For comparison, national manufacturing industry medians provide higher reference points, such as Motor Vehicle Manufacturing at $92,670 and Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing at $84,840, though these are national figures that do not reflect specific Chicago-area wage adjustments.
Nearby regional comparisons highlight distinct pay variations. For Tool and Die Maker in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, releases are separate survey estimates. The May 2025 median is $61,180; the May 2024 median is $61,580. Their arithmetic difference is -$400. They are not the same workers' raises and do not establish a pay trend or its cause. For Tool and Die Maker 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. Because the occupation 51-4111 captures diverse manufacturing plant roles, hiring managers must calibrate offers based on the candidate's specific proficiency in tasks like wire EDM, surface grinding, and progressive die tryout rather than relying solely on these aggregate medians.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
Does the Chicago median wage of $61,180 include shift premiums?
For Tool and Die Maker 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.
What is the primary driver of the high location quotient in Chicago?
The location quotient of 2.27 shows that tool and die making is highly concentrated in this region compared to the rest of the country. It reflects a deep regional footprint of traditional and advanced manufacturing industries.
How do the supplied industry-specific wages differ from the metro median?
The industry-specific medians like Motor Vehicle Manufacturing at $92,670 are national figures. They reflect the earning potential of the occupation within a specific industry sector, regardless of where those roles are physically located.
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