Insulation Workers, Mechanical Salary
Insulation Workers, Mechanicals in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $103,690 a year, or about $49.85 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $100,097 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K 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 insulation workers, mechanicals
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for insulation workers, mechanical, local pay runs about 78% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 insulation workers, mechanicals in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $48K | $51K |
| St. Louis | $79K | $83K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $75K | $78K |
| Kansas City | $70K | $75K |
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 insulation workers, mechanicals (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $58K spread from bottom to top.
Insulation Workers, Mechanical pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Insulation Workers, Mechanical salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $120K | +105% | 1,310 |
| Oregon | $119K | +105% | 170 |
| Nevada | $114K | +96% | 250 |
| New Jersey | $108K | +84% | 330 |
| Minnesota | $106K | +81% | 250 |
| Illinois | $100K | +72% | 1,100 |
| Washington | $92K | +58% | 500 |
| Hawaii | $88K | +50% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $85K | +46% | 600 |
| Alaska | $84K | +45% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | +38% | 590 |
| Arizona | $80K | +38% | N/A |
| Missouri | $79K | +35% | 830 |
| Rhode Island | $77K | +32% | 60 |
| Nebraska | $76K | +30% | 130 |
| West Virginia | $74K | +27% | 90 |
| Indiana | $72K | +24% | 1,320 |
| Maryland | $70K | +20% | 450 |
| Ohio | $68K | +16% | 990 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +11% | 560 |
| Maine | $64K | +9% | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | +6% | 250 |
| New York | $59K | +1% | 1,490 |
| Michigan | $59K | +1% | 650 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -0% | 400 |
| Virginia | $57K | -2% | 1,350 |
| Utah | $56K | -4% | 380 |
| Iowa | $54K | -7% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $53K | -9% | N/A |
| Georgia | $53K | -10% | 660 |
| Arkansas | $51K | -12% | 130 |
| South Carolina | $50K | -14% | 630 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -14% | 120 |
| Florida | $50K | -15% | 480 |
| Colorado | $49K | -16% | 520 |
| Kansas | $49K | -16% | 130 |
| Texas | $49K | -16% | 4,190 |
| Alabama | $49K | -16% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $48K | -17% | 1,090 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -17% | 620 |
| Wyoming | $48K | -17% | 540 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -21% | 670 |
| Kentucky | $46K | -21% | N/A |
| Delaware | $45K | -23% | 340 |
Showing 1–10 of 44 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track insulation workers, mechanical 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 insulation workers, mechanical afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 28% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for insulation workers, mechanicals in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new insulation workers, mechanicals typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,441/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is insulation workers, mechanical a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 78% above the national median — $104K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for insulation workers, mechanicals?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +78%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do insulation workers, mechanicals make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $103,690 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,350, and experienced insulation workers, mechanicals can clear $115,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,350/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a insulation workers, mechanical 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 insulation workers, mechanical salary is worth about $100,097 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do insulation workers, mechanicals 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.