Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators Salary
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $45,640 a year, or about $21.94 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $54K for experienced workers.
So what does $46K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.6). 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Fiberglass laminators and fabricators pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $47K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,462/month, which is 48.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.6) 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen | $48K | , |
| Green Bay | $44K | , |
| St. Louis | $58K | , |
| Fort Wayne | $43K | , |
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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $54K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58K | +25% | 1,100 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | +19% | 200 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | +17% | 270 |
| New Jersey | $54K | +15% | 680 |
| Idaho | $53K | +13% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $52K | +11% | 590 |
| Maine | $51K | +8% | 320 |
| Iowa | $50K | +8% | 40 |
| Oregon | $50K | +6% | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $49K | +5% | 170 |
| Ohio | $49K | +5% | 490 |
| South Dakota | $48K | +3% | 70 |
| California | $48K | +2% | 850 |
| Nevada | $48K | +2% | 120 |
| Nebraska | $47K | +1% | 90 |
| New York | $47K | +1% | 120 |
| Florida | $47K | +1% | 2,870 |
| Missouri | $47K | -1% | 240 |
| Indiana | $46K | -2% | 2,010 |
| South Carolina | $45K | -3% | 480 |
| Utah | $45K | -5% | 50 |
| Texas | $44K | -5% | 1,050 |
| Wisconsin | $44K | -6% | 250 |
| Michigan | $44K | -6% | 520 |
| North Carolina | $44K | -6% | 850 |
| Colorado | $43K | -9% | 80 |
| Mississippi | $42K | -10% | 180 |
| Kansas | $40K | -14% | 210 |
| Louisiana | $40K | -15% | 220 |
| West Virginia | $39K | -16% | 80 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -16% | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $39K | -16% | 120 |
| Virginia | $39K | -17% | 160 |
| Alabama | $38K | -18% | 170 |
| Minnesota | $37K | -20% | N/A |
| Georgia | $36K | -24% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 36 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 48.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,462/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for fiberglass laminators and fabricators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fiberglass laminators and fabricators typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,844/month. At HUD’s $1,462/month FMR, rent would take 79% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is fiberglass laminators and fabricator a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $47K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for fiberglass laminators and fabricators?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $47K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — below the national median.
How much do fiberglass laminators and fabricators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $45,640 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,730, and experienced fiberglass laminators and fabricators can clear $54,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,038/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,462/month, which eats 48.1% 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 fiberglass laminators and fabricators salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median fiberglass laminators and fabricators salary is worth about $44,054 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fiberglass laminators and fabricators 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.