Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators Salary
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $48,660 a year, or about $23.39 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $46,974 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 53.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $49K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer numerically controlled tool operators
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Computer numerically controlled tool operators pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 55.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer numerically controlled tool operators in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $47K | $51K |
| Peoria | $50K | $55K |
| Bloomington | $53K | $57K |
| Champaign-Urbana | $48K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level computer numerically controlled tool operators (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $35K spread from bottom to top.
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $108K | +113% | 2,270 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +22% | 2,500 |
| North Dakota | $60K | +19% | 250 |
| Connecticut | $60K | +18% | 2,740 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | +18% | 1,770 |
| Maine | $60K | +18% | 440 |
| Vermont | $58K | +13% | 1,190 |
| Rhode Island | $57K | +13% | 540 |
| Minnesota | $57K | +12% | 4,290 |
| Oregon | $57K | +12% | 2,920 |
| California | $57K | +11% | 21,680 |
| Colorado | $55K | +9% | 1,580 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | +8% | 7,840 |
| Wyoming | $54K | +7% | 60 |
| New Jersey | $54K | +7% | 1,770 |
| Idaho | $53K | +5% | 480 |
| New York | $53K | +5% | 5,530 |
| Wisconsin | $53K | +4% | 8,330 |
| Alabama | $52K | +3% | 3,120 |
| Iowa | $52K | +3% | 4,750 |
| Montana | $52K | +2% | 240 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +2% | 2,460 |
| Missouri | $51K | +1% | 1,500 |
| South Dakota | $51K | +0% | 1,420 |
| North Carolina | $50K | -0% | 3,680 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -1% | 2,180 |
| Delaware | $50K | -1% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $50K | -1% | 1,980 |
| Louisiana | $50K | -2% | 670 |
| West Virginia | $50K | -2% | 160 |
| Virginia | $50K | -2% | 1,890 |
| Nebraska | $49K | -3% | 830 |
| Kentucky | $49K | -3% | 1,740 |
| Ohio | $49K | -3% | 21,250 |
| Arizona | $49K | -3% | 1,800 |
| Indiana | $49K | -4% | 9,690 |
| Texas | $48K | -4% | 13,190 |
| Illinois | $48K | -4% | 8,170 |
| Kansas | $48K | -5% | 2,540 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -6% | 1,490 |
| Georgia | $48K | -6% | 2,200 |
| Michigan | $47K | -7% | 7,330 |
| Maryland | $47K | -8% | 1,800 |
| Nevada | $47K | -8% | 400 |
| Florida | $46K | -9% | 4,040 |
| Utah | $45K | -11% | 1,170 |
| New Mexico | $45K | -11% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $40K | -22% | 1,290 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer numerically controlled tool operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer numerically controlled tool operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 55.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer numerically controlled tool operators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer numerically controlled tool operators typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,339/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 76% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer numerically controlled tool operator a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for computer numerically controlled tool operators?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do computer numerically controlled tool operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $48,660 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,990, and experienced computer numerically controlled tool operators can clear $73,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,227/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 55.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a computer numerically controlled tool operators salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer numerically controlled tool operators salary is worth about $46,974 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer numerically controlled tool operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.