Motorcycle Mechanics Salary
The median pay for a motorcycle mechanics in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $42,770/year ($20.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $41,288 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 61.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $43K 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 motorcycle mechanics
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Pay for motorcycle mechanics in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $49K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 62.3% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for motorcycle mechanicss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for motorcycle mechanics in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $49K | $50K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $51K | $53K |
| Appleton | $52K | $56K |
| Madison | $49K | $51K |
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 motorcycle mechanics (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Motorcycle Mechanics pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Motorcycle Mechanics salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $63K | +29% | 130 |
| Nevada | $60K | +24% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $59K | +22% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $58K | +20% | 350 |
| Oregon | $58K | +19% | 160 |
| Maryland | $58K | +19% | 170 |
| California | $57K | +17% | 1,730 |
| Colorado | $57K | +17% | 420 |
| New York | $55K | +13% | 270 |
| Texas | $53K | +10% | 1,170 |
| South Carolina | $52K | +7% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $52K | +7% | 100 |
| Washington | $52K | +7% | 300 |
| Nebraska | $50K | +3% | 40 |
| North Dakota | $50K | +3% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $50K | +3% | 490 |
| Virginia | $49K | +2% | 300 |
| Vermont | $49K | +1% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $49K | +1% | N/A |
| Florida | $49K | +0% | 730 |
| North Carolina | $49K | +0% | 440 |
| Maine | $48K | -0% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -1% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -1% | 550 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -3% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -3% | 320 |
| Montana | $47K | -3% | 140 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -4% | 70 |
| South Dakota | $46K | -4% | 200 |
| Hawaii | $46K | -5% | 30 |
| Mississippi | $46K | -6% | 160 |
| Alaska | $46K | -6% | 220 |
| Indiana | $45K | -6% | 430 |
| Iowa | $45K | -8% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -8% | 240 |
| Ohio | $44K | -9% | 520 |
| Arizona | $44K | -9% | 240 |
| Utah | $44K | -10% | 170 |
| Idaho | $43K | -11% | 130 |
| Georgia | $43K | -11% | 250 |
| Alabama | $43K | -12% | 270 |
| Illinois | $42K | -14% | 290 |
| Michigan | $40K | -17% | 310 |
| Wyoming | $40K | -19% | 70 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -23% | 200 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track motorcycle mechanics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a motorcycle mechanic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 62.3% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for motorcycle mechanics in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motorcycle mechanics typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,373/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is motorcycle mechanic a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $43K here vs. $49K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for motorcycle mechanics?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $49K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $41K — below the national median.
How much do motorcycle mechanics make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $42,770 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,550, and experienced motorcycle mechanics can clear $59,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,857/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 62.3% 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 motorcycle mechanics 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 motorcycle mechanics salary is worth about $41,288 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do motorcycle mechanics 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.