Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,580 or more. The middle half of structural metal fabricators and fitters in Chicago earn between $58,240 and $68,580.
- $46K10th
- $58K25th
- $68KMedian
- $69K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $62,340 | $5,195 | $29.97 |
| Median | $68,280 | $5,690 | $32.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,580 | $5,715 | $32.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Structural metal fabricators and fitters in Chicago earn 13% more than the Illinois average ($55,050) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($54,030). At the median the gap is +33% against the U.S. median of $51,330.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $62,340 | $68,280 | $46,020 | $68,580 | 2,290 |
| Illinois | $55,050 | $55,380 | $36,960 | $72,480 | 1,910 |
| United States | $54,030 | $51,330 | $37,960 | $72,280 | 52,360 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $62,340, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $49,325 a year, or $4,110 a month and $1,897 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $50,430 | $4,202 |
| Working in IL | $49,325 | $4,110 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for structural metal fabricators and fitters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $62,340 buys what about $60,177 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
All Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for structural metal fabricators and fitters
Albany, OR pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,610).
- Albany, OR$71,610
- Bremerton, WA$70,180
- Seattle, WA$69,660
- San Francisco, CA$69,440
- Portland, OR$66,730
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Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters salary in Chicago: questions
How much do structural metal fabricators and fitters make an hour in Chicago?
$29.97 an hour on average, and $32.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level structural metal fabricators and fitters salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the structural metal fabricators and fitters take-home pay in Chicago?
About $49,325 a year ($4,110 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $62,340.
Do structural metal fabricators and fitters earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% more than the U.S. average for this job ($54,030).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-2041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.51, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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