Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Illinois
Metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois earned a median of $54,930 a year ($26.41 an hour) and a mean of $51,750 in May 2025. The median is 8.5% above the U.S. median of $50,620, ranking 10th of 36 states, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $54,930
- Median hourly
- $26.41
- Mean annual
- $51,750
- Jobs on record
- 1,260
Grey needle: U.S. median, $50,620 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Illinois compare on pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
Illinois ranks 10th of 36 states. Colorado is highest at $71,670, $16,740 more than the Illinois median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | 8 | $57,020 | +13% | 580 |
| Arizona | 9 | $55,840 | +10% | 110 |
| Illinois | 10 | $54,930 | +9% | 1,260 |
| Maryland | 11 | $54,860 | +8% | 60 |
| North Carolina | 12 | $53,840 | +6% | 310 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 36 states with a published figure. See every state.
Does Illinois pay go further after prices?
Prices in Illinois are about at the U.S. average, so the $54,930 median buys about what $54,953 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $50,620 U.S. median. On this measure Illinois ranks 13th of 36, down from 10th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Illinois pay metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders the most?
Peoria, IL is highest at $57,330, 4.4% above the Illinois median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | $57,330 | 190 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $49,980 | 590 |
| Rockford, IL | $47,690 | 170 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Illinois is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders work in Illinois?
BLS counts 1,260 jobs in Illinois, 7.5% of the 16,710 in the U.S. That is the 4th largest count among the 36 states with a published figure. That is 0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in Illinois, a location quotient of 1.92: the occupation's share of local jobs is 1.92 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
How does the Illinois minimum wage compare with pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders?
The 10th-percentile hourly pay for metal and plastic lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders in Illinois was $17.30 in May 2025, $2.30 above the $15.00 minimum wage that applies there now. The pay figure dates from May 2025 and the minimum wage is the current rate, so the two are not from the same date.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated 2026-11-05; BLS OEWS state file, May 2025, 10th-percentile hourly wage.
Related jobs in Illinois
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.