Machinist salary in Illinois
Median $28.13 an hour for 16,520 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Illinois: the full range
Illinois ranks 30th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 36th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $28.13). 16,520 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.46 – $22.30 | $38,390 – $46,380 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.30 – $31.55 | $46,380 – $65,620 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $31.55 – $37.64 | $65,620 – $78,290 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Illinois
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $22.71 | $29.91 | $43.24 | 5,620 | 6% above |
| Davenport | $20.12 | $29.67 | $38.70 | 600 | 5% above |
| Paducah | $18.39 | $28.99 | $47.54 | 100 | 3% above |
| Chicago | $18.60 | $28.62 | $37.98 | 11,270 | 2% above |
| Springfield | $18.70 | $28.53 | $38.25 | 90 | 1% above |
| Champaign | $21.86 | $28.32 | $50.98 | 100 | 1% above |
| Decatur | $18.25 | $27.39 | $30.97 | 60 | 3% below |
| Peoria | $18.48 | $24.85 | $37.18 | 500 | 12% below |
| Rockford | $17.67 | $23.89 | $34.82 | 1,800 | 15% below |
| Cape Girardeau | $18.28 | $23.15 | $40.82 | 100 | 18% below |
| Kankakee | $18.46 | $23.05 | $36.75 | 100 | 18% below |
Machinist wages in Illinois over time
Table
| Year | Illinois $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $14.65 | $28.31 | $14.30 | 23,830 |
| 2000 | $15.11 | $28.25 | $14.78 | 22,340 |
| 2001 | $16.00 | $29.09 | $15.43 | 23,480 |
| 2002 | $16.07 | $28.76 | $15.66 | 22,470 |
| 2003 | $15.72 | $27.51 | $15.91 | 22,440 |
| 2004 | $15.88 | $27.06 | $16.33 | 21,430 |
| 2005 | $15.77 | $26.00 | $16.51 | 23,470 |
| 2006 | $16.38 | $26.16 | $16.71 | 28,940 |
| 2007 | $17.09 | $26.54 | $16.94 | 32,150 |
| 2008 | $17.23 | $25.76 | $17.41 | 34,140 |
| 2009 | $17.57 | $26.37 | $18.10 | 27,010 |
| 2010 | $17.98 | $26.55 | $18.52 | 25,290 |
| 2011 | $18.82 | $26.94 | $18.86 | 25,090 |
| 2012 | $19.12 | $26.81 | $18.99 | 26,970 |
| 2013 | $18.81 | $26.00 | $19.03 | 27,400 |
| 2014 | $18.04 | $24.53 | $19.22 | 30,130 |
| 2015 | $17.61 | $23.92 | $19.49 | 32,040 |
| 2016 | $17.55 | $23.54 | $20.05 | 33,940 |
| 2017 | $17.89 | $23.50 | $20.48 | 31,790 |
| 2018 | $18.53 | $23.76 | $20.97 | 31,000 |
| 2019 | $19.44 | $24.48 | $21.36 | 30,010 |
| 2020 | $20.63 | $25.66 | $22.04 | 28,680 |
| 2021 | $22.90 | $27.21 | $22.95 | 20,510 |
| 2022 | $23.15 | $25.47 | $23.32 | 20,050 |
| 2023 | $23.56 | $24.89 | $24.44 | 17,210 |
| 2024 | $27.26 | $27.98 | $27.00 | 16,100 |
| 2025 | $28.13 | $28.13 | $28.24 | 16,520 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Illinois changed by +17.6% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Illinois?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Illinois
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Illinois?
The median machinist in Illinois earned $28.13 an hour ($58,520 a year) in May 2025, about the same as the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.30–$31.55; the top 10% earn more than $37.64.
Where does Illinois rank for machinist pay?
Illinois ranks 30th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $28.13 an hour, and 36th after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (BEA price parity 100.0, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Illinois?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Illinois counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Illinois?
BLS counted 16,520 machinists in Illinois in May 2025, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.47; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Illinois and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.