SOC 53-7062 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in Chicago, IL is $40,550 per year, close to the national median of $40,240 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in Chicago, IL is $40,550 per year, close to the national median of $40,240 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $31,860 at the tenth percentile to more than $56,440 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $35,920 to $47,640.
Employment stands at 157,920, or 35.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Decatur leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $46,010. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 620th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $31,860 | −20.8% |
| 25th | $35,920 | −10.7% |
| Median (50th) | $40,550 | +0.8% |
| 75th | $47,640 | +18.4% |
| 90th | $56,440 | +40.3% |
| Mean | $43,140 | +7.2% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Decatur | $46,010 | 1,430 | |
| 2 | Rockford | $44,200 | 5,940 | |
| 3 | Champaign | $41,970 | 1,960 | |
| 4 | Springfield | $38,160 | 1,300 | |
| 5 | Peoria | $37,420 | 2,750 | |
| 6 | Kankakee | $37,110 | 1,190 | |
| 7 | Bloomington | $36,610 | 960 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $40,550 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$40,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$40,550US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $40,550 a year, 0.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $31,860 to $56,440 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 157,920 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Decatur, at $46,010.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $40,550, or $19.50 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $40,240, so pay in Chicago, IL is 0.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $56,440 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $31,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Decatur, at $46,010 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 157,920 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data