Machine Operator Average Salary in Chicago 2024
How much money does a person working as Machine Operator make in Chicago?
LOW
15,000
USD AVERAGE
32,700
USD HIGH
52,000
USD
A person working as Machine Operator in Chicago typically earns around 32,700 USD. Salaries range from 15,000 USD (lowest) to 52,000 USD (highest).
Salary Variance
This is the average salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Machine Operator salaries in Chicago vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location. Below you will find a detailed breakdown based on many different criteria.
Machine Operator Pay Scale and Salaries in Chicago
Salary Structure and Pay Scale Comparison
31,000 USD or more
27,200 to 31,000 USD
18,700 USD or less
18,700 to 27,200 USD
 15,000 USD |
31,200 USD |
52,000 USD |
Median Salary, maximum and minimum salary, minimum wage, starting salary, and the salary range
Salary Range, Minimum Wage, and Starting Salary
Salaries for the position Machine Operator in Chicago range from 15,000 USD (starting salary) to 52,000 USD (maximum salary). It should be noted that the given figure is not the legally mandated minimum wage; rather, it represents the lowest figure reported in a salary survey that included thousands of participants and professionals from all regions of the country.
Median Salary
With a median salary of 31,200 USD, half of the professionals who work as Machine Operator in Chicago earn less than this amount, and the other half earn more. The median salary denotes the middle value of salaries. Ideally, you would want to belong to the group earning more than the median salary, located on the right side of the salary distribution graph.
Percentiles and Salary Scale
The median is closely associated with two other values known as the 25th and 75th percentiles. By examining the salary distribution chart, it can be determined that 25% of professionals employed as Machine Operator in Chicago earn less than 25,200 USD, while 75% earn more. Similarly, the chart shows that 75% earn less than 36,000 USD while 25% earn more.
Pay Scale Structure
To provide a better understanding of expected salaries, we categorized the frequently occurring salaries into different ranges. This approach provides a more precise representation of salary distribution for the job title Machine Operator in Chicago compared to simply calculating the average. The majority of reported salaries, approximately 65%, fall within the range of 18,700 USD to 27,200 USD. About 20% of salaries are below the 18,700 USD mark, while 10% fall within the range of 27,200 USD to 31,000 USD. Only 5% of individuals have salaries exceeding 31,000 USD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience / Machine Operator / Chicago
How do experience and age affect pay?
| 0 - 2 Years | 17,100 USD | |
| 2 - 5 Years | +34% | 22,800 USD |
| 5 - 10 Years | +48% | 33,700 USD |
| 10 - 15 Years | +22% | 41,100 USD |
| 15 - 20 Years | +9% | 44,800 USD |
| 20+ Years | +8% | 48,500 USD |
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally, the more years of experience the higher the wage. We broke down salaries by experience level for people working as Machine Operator and this is what we found.
Employees with less than two years of experience earn approximately 17,100 USD.
While someone with an experience level between two and five years is expected to earn 22,800 USD, 34% more than someone with less than two year's experience.
Moving forward, an experience level between five and ten years lands a salary of 33,700 USD, 48% more than someone with two to five years of experience.
Additionally, professionals whose expertise span anywhere between ten and fifteen years get a salary equivalent to 41,100 USD, 22% more than someone with five to ten years of experience.
If the experience level is between fifteen and twenty years, then the expected wage is 44,800 USD, 9% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.
Lastly, employees with more than twenty years of professional experience get a salary of 48,500 USD, 8% more than people with fifteen to twenty years of experience.
Typical Salary Progress for Most Careers
Salary Comparison By Education / Machine Operator / Chicago
How do education levels affect salaries?
Displayed below is the average salary variance between different education levels of professionals working as Machine Operator.
| High School | 19,800 USD | |
| Certificate or Diploma | +93% | 38,300 USD |
We all know that higher education equals a bigger salary, but how much more money can a degree add to your income? We broke down salaries by education level for the position Machine Operator in order to make a comparison.
Level 1: High School
Employees at this education level have an average salary of 19,800 USD.
Level 2: Certificate or Diploma
At this level, the average salary becomes 38,300 USD, 93% more than the previous level.
Typical Salary Difference by Education for Most Careers
Salary and Compensation Comparison By Gender / Machine Operator / Chicago
Though gender should not have an effect on pay, in reality, it does. So who gets paid more: men or women? For the people who work as Machine Operator in United States, the average difference between the salary of male and female employees is 6%.
| Male | 26,900 USD | |
| Female | -6% | 25,400 USD |
Salary Comparison By Gender in United States for all Careers
Average Annual Salary Increment Percentage / Machine Operator / Chicago
How much are annual salary increments in Chicago for individuals working as Machine Operator? How often do employees get salary raises?
Individuals working as Machine Operator in United States are likely to observe a salary increase of approximately % every months. The national average annual increment for all professions combined is 8% granted to employees every 16 months.
United States / All Professions
The term Annual Salary Increase usually refers to the increase in 12 calendar month period, but because it is rare that people get their salaries reviewed exactly on the one-year mark, it is more meaningful to know the frequency and the rate at the time of the increase.
How to calculate the salary increment percentage?
The annual salary Increase in a calendar year (12 months) can be easily calculated as follows: Annual Salary Increase = Increase Rate x 12 / Increase Frequency
Worldwide Salary Raises: All Countries and All Jobs
Salary Packages and Schemes
Not all compensation increases are reflected directly in the salary. Some companies offer upgraded packages to their staff instead of cash money. The figures displayed here account only for direct increments to the base salary.
Bonus and Incentive Rates / Machine Operator / United States
How much and how often are bonuses being awarded?
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100% of surveyed staff reported that they haven't received any bonuses or incentives in the previous year while % said that they received at least one form of monetary bonus.
Those who got bonuses reported rates ranging from % to % of their annual salary.
| Received Bonus | % | |
| No Bonus | 100% |
Types of Bonuses Considered
Individual Performance-Based BonusesThe most standard form of bonus, where the employee is awarded based on their exceptional performance.
Company Performance BonusesOccasionally, some companies like to celebrate excess earnings and profits with their staff collectively in the form of bonuses that are granted to everyone. The amount of the bonus will probably be different from person to person depending on their role within the organization.
Goal-Based BonusesGranted upon achieving an important goal or milestone.
Holiday / End of Year BonusesThese types of bonuses are given without a reason and usually resemble an appreciation token.
Bonuses Are Not Commissions!
People tend to confuse bonuses with commissions. A commission is a prefixed rate at which someone gets paid for items sold or deals completed while a bonus is in most cases arbitrary and unplanned.
What makes a position worthy of good bonuses and a high salary?
The main two types of jobs | |
| Revenue Generators | Supporting Cast |
Employees that are directly involved in generating revenue or profit for the organization. Their field of expertise usually matches the type of business. | Employees that support and facilitate the work of revenue generators. Their expertise is usually different from that of the core business operations. |
Example: | Example: |
Revenue generators usually get more and higher bonuses, higher salaries, and more frequent salary increments. The reason is quite simple: it is easier to quantify your value to the company in monetary terms when you participate in revenue generation.
Bonus Comparison by Seniority Level
Top management personnel and senior employees naturally exhibit higher bonus rates and frequencies than juniors. This is very predictable due to the inherent responsibilities of being higher in the hierarchy. People in top positions can easily get double or triple bonus rates than employees down the pyramid.
Average Hourly Wage / Machine Operator / Chicago
16 USD per hourThe average hourly wage (pay per hour) for individuals working as Machine Operator in Chicago is 16 USD.This is the rate they get paid for every worked hour.
About The Hourly Pay Rate
The hourly wage is the salary paid in one worked hour. Usually, jobs are classified into two categories: salaried jobs and hourly jobs. Salaried jobs pay a fixed amount regardless of the hours worked. Hourly jobs pay per worked hour. To convert salary into hourly wage the above formula is used (assuming 5 working days in a week and 8 working hours per day which is the standard for most jobs). The hourly wage calculation may differ slightly depending on the worked hours per week and the annual vacation allowance. The figures mentioned above are good approximations and are considered to be the standard. One major difference between salaried employees and hourly paid employees is overtime eligibility. Salaried employees are usually exempt from overtime as opposed to hourly paid staff.
What is the minimum hourly rate of pay?
The minimum pay rate per hour for people working as Machine Operator in Chicago is 7 USD. This is the minimum as per the gathered data in the salary survey not the minimum hourly rate mandated by law.
Salary comparison with similar jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Factory and Manufacturing |  -100% | |
| 3D Printing Technician | 68,300 USD |  +110% |
| Additive Manufacturing Engineer | 92,700 USD | +180% |
| Assembly Foreman | 32,700 USD | +0% |
| Assembly Line Worker | 30,900 USD | -5% |
| Assembly Supervisor | 45,200 USD | +38% |
| Assistance Maintenance Manager | 110,000 USD | +240% |
| Assistant Shipping Manager | 102,000 USD | +210% |
| Automation Process Analyst | 71,000 USD | +120% |
| Chemical Equipment Controller | 72,400 USD | +120% |
| Chemical Technican Apprentice | 62,000 USD | +90% |
| CNC Machinist | 72,100 USD | +120% |
| CNC Operator | 69,300 USD | +110% |
| CNC Programmer | 73,400 USD | +120% |
| Colour Technologist | 40,600 USD | +24% |
| Contracts Manager | 137,000 USD | +320% |
| Data Collection Coordinator | 51,600 USD | +58% |
| Demand Planner | 45,300 USD | +39% |
| Derrick Operator | 33,600 USD | +3% |
| Digital Twin Engineer | 94,400 USD | +190% |
| Director of Manufacturing | 196,000 USD | +500% |
| Dock Worker | 30,600 USD | -6% |
| Drying Technician | 30,900 USD | -5% |
| Equipment Operator | 27,700 USD | -15% |
| Export Sales Coordinator | 94,400 USD | +190% |
| Factory Superintendent | 48,800 USD | +49% |
| Factory Worker | 32,600 USD | -0% |
| Failure Analysis Technician | 47,800 USD | +46% |
| Fiberglass Laminator | 33,100 USD | +1% |
| Food Technologist | 56,600 USD | +73% |
| Forklift Driver | 32,300 USD | -1% |
| Forklift Operator | 33,300 USD | +2% |
| Forming Machine Operator | 33,300 USD | +2% |
| Furnace Operator | 30,800 USD | -6% |
| Gas Appliance Repairer | 32,600 USD | -0% |
| General Warehouse Associate | 54,100 USD | +66% |
| Green Product Designer | 90,100 USD | +180% |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | 40,000 USD | +22% |
| HSE Manager | 129,000 USD | +290% |
| Industrial Cybersecurity Specialist | 99,600 USD | +200% |
| Industrial Engineer | 99,500 USD | +200% |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanic | 65,200 USD | +99% |
| Industrial Production Manager | 187,000 USD | +470% |
| Industrial Safety and Health Engineer | 103,000 USD | +220% |
| Intake Operator | 39,600 USD | +21% |
| Key Account Manager | 153,000 USD | +370% |
| Lean Manufacturing Specialist | 101,000 USD | +210% |
| Lift Truck Operator | 32,900 USD | +1% |
| Loading Supervisor | 58,100 USD | +78% |
| Logistic Coordinator | 80,700 USD | +150% |
| Logistics Clerk | 38,700 USD | +18% |
| Machine Operator | 32,700 USD | +0% |
| Machinist | 32,300 USD | -1% |
| Maintenance Manager | 121,000 USD | +270% |
| Maintenance Store Clerk | 34,000 USD | +4% |
| Manufacturing Engineer | 97,200 USD | +200% |
| Manufacturing Engineering Manager | 150,000 USD | +360% |
| Manufacturing Engineering Technologist | 116,000 USD | +250% |
| Manufacturing Manager | 172,000 USD | +430% |
| Manufacturing Operative | 51,700 USD | +58% |
| Manufacturing Production Technician | 41,600 USD | +27% |
| Manufacturing Supervisor | 91,900 USD | +180% |
| Manufacturing Technician | 37,000 USD | +13% |
| Materials Manager | 137,000 USD | +320% |
| Materials Supervisor | 89,200 USD | +170% |
| Mechanical Fitter Engineer | 101,000 USD | +210% |
| Mechanical Foreman | 30,800 USD | -6% |
| Merchandise Planner | 53,300 USD | +63% |
| Metrology Engineer | 101,000 USD | +210% |
| Operations Engineer | 96,300 USD | +190% |
| Operations Manager | 164,000 USD | +400% |
| Order Management Coordinator | 83,200 USD | +150% |
| Order Processing Manager | 137,000 USD | +320% |
| Order Selector | 37,900 USD | +16% |
| Package Handler | 30,300 USD | -7% |
| Packaging Manager | 103,000 USD | +220% |
| Packer | 32,300 USD | -1% |
| Packing Deputy Supervisor | 82,700 USD | +150% |
| Planning Manager | 152,000 USD | +370% |
| Plant Manager | 163,000 USD | +400% |
| Precision Instrument Repairer | 46,500 USD | +42% |
| Predictive Maintenance Analyst | 102,000 USD | +210% |
| Process Technician | 40,300 USD | +23% |
| Product Manager | 158,000 USD | +380% |
| Production Analyst | 134,000 USD | +310% |
| Production Director | 193,000 USD | +490% |
| Production Engineer | 104,000 USD | +220% |
| Production Engineering Supervisor | 154,000 USD | +370% |
| Production Inspector | 109,000 USD | +230% |
| Production Laborer | 28,900 USD | -12% |
| Production Manager | 191,000 USD | +480% |
| Production Operator | 42,400 USD | +30% |
| Production Scheduler | 76,600 USD | +130% |
| Production Supervisor | 99,900 USD | +210% |
| Production Technician | 43,700 USD | +34% |
| Production Worker | 40,400 USD | +24% |
| Quality Control Analyst | 137,000 USD | +320% |
| Quality Control Inspector | 102,000 USD | +210% |
| Quality Control Manager | 154,000 USD | +370% |
| Service Technician | 38,300 USD | +17% |
| SHEQ Officer | 48,400 USD | +48% |
| Shipping Manager | 163,000 USD | +400% |
| Small Engine Mechanic | 53,000 USD | +62% |
| Smart Factory Consultant | 128,000 USD | +290% |
| Spray Painter | 31,600 USD | -3% |
| Sterile Processing Technician | 35,500 USD | +9% |
| Structural Welder | 28,000 USD | -14% |
| Supply Chain Operative | 92,800 USD | +180% |
| Sustainable Manufacturing Specialist | 137,000 USD | +320% |
| Technical Operator | 40,800 USD | +25% |
| Technology Development Manager | 173,000 USD | +430% |
| Testing Technician | 70,100 USD | +110% |
| Toolmaker | 53,000 USD | +62% |
| Warehouse Forklift Operator | 32,100 USD | -2% |
| Warehouse Operative | 34,500 USD | +6% |
| Warehouse Worker | 34,800 USD | +6% |
| Warranty Handler | 61,300 USD | +88% |
| Welder | 31,100 USD | -5% |
| Workshop Manager | 114,000 USD | +250% |
Salary Comparison By City
| City | Average Salary |
| Chicago | 32,700 USD |
Government vs Private Sector Salary Comparison
Where can you get paid more, working in a private company or the government? The difference between the public or government sector salaries and the private sector salaries in United States is 5% on average across all career fields.
| Private Sector | 92,800 USD | |
| Public Sector | +5% | 97,500 USD |
Salary Statistics and Calculation Guide
What is considered to be a good and competitive salary for the job title Machine Operator in Chicago?
A good and competitive compensation would range anywhere between 31,200 USD and 36,000 USD. This is a very rough estimate. Experience and education play a very huge part in the final earnings.
Gross Salary (before tax) and Net Salary (after tax)
All salary and compensation figures displayed here are gross salary figures, that is the salary before tax deductions. Because taxes may differ across sectors and locations, it is difficult to accurately calculate the net salary after tax for every career.
Base / Basic Salary
The base salary for a careers like Machine Operator in Chicago ranges from 15,000 USD to 25,200 USD. The base salary depends on many factors including experience and education. It is not easy to provide a figure with very little information, so take this range with a grain of salt.
What is the difference between the median and the average salary?
Both are indicators. If your salary is higher than both the average and the median then you are doing very well. If your salary is lower than both, then many people earn more than you and there is plenty of room for improvement. If your wage is between the average and the median, then things can be a bit complicated. We wrote a guide to explain all about the different scenarios. How to compare your salary
