BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Cutting Machine Operators in Illinois

$51,740 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$24.88 per hour

▲ 6.8% above U.S. average6th of 49 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$51,740per year
Median$48,990per year
Hourly$24.88per hour
10th – 90th percentile$36,960 – $73,270per year

Cutting Machine Operators Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$36,960
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$41,670
  • 50th Percentile — Median$48,990
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$59,030
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$73,270

Half of Cutting Machine Operators in Illinois earn more than $48,990. The top 10% make $73,270 or more, while entry-level workers start around $36,960.

Cutting Machine Operators in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 6th of 49 states for Cutting Machine Operators pay, at $51,740 per year (6.8% above the U.S. average of $48,430).
  • 8,060 people work as Cutting Machine Operators in Illinois — 4.7% of all U.S. Cutting Machine Operators jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.20: Cutting Machine Operators jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,960; the top 10% earn over $73,270.
  • Hourly equivalent: $24.88 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Oregon at $55,390.
  • Among manufacturing jobs in Illinois, First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers pays the most ($76,340).

Cutting Machine Operators Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Cutting Machine Operators here earn $51,740 on average, placing the state 6th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $51,740 is roughly equivalent to $49,276 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($55,150), Colorado ($55,080), Maine ($52,050) are the closest alternatives for Cutting Machine Operators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Illinois?

The average Cutting Machine Operators salary in Illinois is $51,740 per year (median $48,990), which is 6.8% above the national average of $48,430.

How does Illinois rank for Cutting Machine Operators pay?

Illinois ranks 6th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is Oregon ($55,390/yr).

How much do entry-level Cutting Machine Operators make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Cutting Machine Operators in Illinois earn about $36,960 per year and the 25th percentile is $41,670.

How much do Cutting Machine Operators make per hour in Illinois?

About $24.88 per hour, based on the $51,740 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Cutting Machine Operators work in Illinois?

BLS counts 8,060 Cutting Machine Operators jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

Explore more salary data