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Industrial Machinery Mechanics Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Industrial Machinery Mechanics salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$76,200
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$75,222
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Industrial Machinery Mechanics earning $76,200 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $75,222 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $49,230 $48,598 $-631
25th Percentile (P25) $61,120 $60,335 $-784
Median (P50) $76,200 $75,222 $-977
75th Percentile (P75) $91,880 $90,700 $-1,179
90th Percentile (P90) $102,590 $101,273 $-1,316
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $76,200 keeps most of its value at $75,222 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Industrial Machinery Mechanics is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $76,200 nominal nets out to $75,222 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Industrial Machinery Mechanics.

Top-Quartile Adjusted Earnings in Illinois

#4 / 51

Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Illinois places #4 of 51 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.

Best States for Industrial Machinery Mechanics (After Cost of Living)

Where does Industrial Machinery Mechanics salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Wyoming
$85,223
RPP 91.9
2. Nevada
$80,653
RPP 96.4
3. Alaska
$75,872
RPP 102.0
$75,222
RPP 101.3
$75,188
RPP 116.6
6. Arizona
$74,864
RPP 99.9
7. Utah
$74,835
RPP 94.5
8. Montana
$74,473
RPP 90.3
$74,396
RPP 88.7
10. Missouri
$73,973
RPP 91.1

Illinois ranks #4 out of 51 states for Industrial Machinery Mechanics after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Industrial Machinery Mechanics take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Illinois after cost of living?

A Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Illinois earns a median salary of $76,200 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $75,222 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Industrial Machinery Mechanics in Illinois: $76,200 x (100 / 101.3) = $75,222. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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