How much do Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

Percentile spread

For Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators, the published 10th percentile is $31,200 and the 90th percentile is $59,890. The difference is $28,690, which is 75.6% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $31,200 to the 75th at $42,900, covers $11,700.

The mean annual wage is $41,740, which sits above the median of $37,940. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN median is 6.6% lower than the national median of $40,610 for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. In 2024 national prices the local median is $36,623, which is 9.8% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is about the same as the Illinois median of $37,940.

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Illinois, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is 103.595, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $37,940 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators at $36,623 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

2 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ranks 1st of 3 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN is 163 miles away, with a median of $37,720 and employment of 90. That median is 0.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $39,416, against $36,623 here.
• Muncie, IN is 166 miles away, with a median of $37,180. That median is 2% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $42,179, against $36,623 here.