Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Chemical Plant and System Operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $65,750 a year ($31.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,690 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $78,120. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $65,710. There are 0.02 chemical plant and system operators per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.23). The average (mean) salary is $66,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical plant and system operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| 25th percentile | $57,860 | $27.82 |
| Median | $65,750 | $31.61 |
| 75th percentile | $74,770 | $35.95 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Average (mean) | $66,660 | $32.05 |
Half of chemical plant and system operators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,479.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,739.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,528.85 |
| Weekly | $1,264.42 |
| Hourly | $31.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $65,750 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Plant and System Operators salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $52,330 | 190 |
Highest-paying states for chemical plant and system operators
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $128,830 |
| Wyoming | $107,810 |
| Texas | $102,750 |
| Louisiana | $100,060 |
| Kentucky | $97,550 |
| Maryland | $95,150 |
| Alabama | $91,610 |
| Arkansas | $91,610 |
| California | $87,550 |
| Oregon | $87,110 |
See Chemical Plant and System Operators pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | $79,290 | $38.12 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | $115,780 | $55.66 |
| Power Plant Operator | $123,540 | $59.40 |
| Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | $111,370 | $53.54 |
| Gas Plant Operator | $102,810 | $49.43 |
| Plant and System Operators, All Other | $80,660 | $38.78 |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | $101,570 | $48.83 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $43,650 | $20.99 |
| Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers | $48,230 | $23.19 |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | $43,290 | $20.81 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| Machinist | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
More: Production Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 51-8091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical plant and system operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for chemical plant and system operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $65,750 a year, or $31.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,690 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical plant and system operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of chemical plant and system operators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $83,690 a year. The top 25% earn $74,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical plant and system operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,630 a year, and a quarter of chemical plant and system operators earn $57,860 or less.
How many chemical plant and system operators work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 110 chemical plant and system operators are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.