Model Makers, Metal and Plastic Salary
The median pay for a model makers, metal and plastic in Illinois is $68,890/year ($33.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $73,404 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in Illinois?
About model makers, metal and plastics
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What this looks like in Illinois
Model makers, metal and plastic pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $69K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level model makers, metal and plastics (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Model Makers, Metal and Plastic salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $69K | +0% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a model makers, metal and plastic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for model makers, metal and plastics in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new model makers, metal and plastics typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,578/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is model makers, metal and plastic a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $69K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for model makers, metal and plastics?
Illinois pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do model makers, metal and plastics make in Illinois?
The median is $68,890 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,960, and experienced model makers, metal and plastics can clear $68,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,453/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 31.6% 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 model makers, metal and plastic salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median model makers, metal and plastic salary is worth about $73,404 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do model makers, metal and plastics 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.