Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Food Processing Workers, All Other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $42,840 a year ($20.59 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,390 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $39,680. Pay here is 6% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $45,340. There are 0.26 food processing workers, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.61). The average (mean) salary is $44,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food processing workers, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,440 | $16.56 |
| 25th percentile | $39,660 | $19.07 |
| Median | $42,840 | $20.59 |
| 75th percentile | $48,580 | $23.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,390 | $24.71 |
| Average (mean) | $44,230 | $21.26 |
Half of food processing workers, all other 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 | $3,570 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,785 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,647.69 |
| Weekly | $823.85 |
| Hourly | $20.59 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $42,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Processing Workers, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $44,610 | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $40,740 | 310 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,590 | 80 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $39,250 | 50 |
| Rockford, IL | $37,800 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for food processing workers, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Colorado | $46,930 |
| Idaho | $46,820 |
| Kansas | $46,060 |
| New Hampshire | $45,410 |
| Illinois | $45,340 |
| Arizona | $45,330 |
| North Dakota | $45,120 |
| Missouri | $44,050 |
| Washington | $43,980 |
| Vermont | $43,300 |
See Food Processing Workers, All Other pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Baker | $37,230 | $17.90 |
| Food Batchmaker | $47,660 | $22.91 |
| Butchers and Meat Cutters | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | $40,690 | $19.56 |
| Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | $44,280 | $21.29 |
| Slaughterers and Meat Packers | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| 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 |
| Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers | $41,160 | $19.79 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $52,650 | $25.31 |
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 51-3099. 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 food processing workers, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for food processing workers, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $42,840 a year, or $20.59 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $51,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food processing workers, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of food processing workers, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $51,390 a year. The top 25% earn $48,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for food processing workers, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,440 a year, and a quarter of food processing workers, all other earn $39,660 or less.
How many food processing workers, all other work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,150 food processing workers, all other are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.