StateRates

Rockford salaries

The median worker in the Rockford, IL metro area earned $45,970 a year in 2024, about $22.10 an hour. That ranks #222 of the 391 metro areas published here, 7.1% below the national median.

Illinois

Median pay $45,970 $22.10 per hour
Vs national -7.1% U.S. $49,500
Workers 139,310 wage and salary
Metro rank #222 of 391 by median pay

What this labour market looks like

Rockford pays 8.1% less than Illinois as a whole. Metros usually run ahead of their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and the gap is a rough measure of how much of a state's economy sits in its cities.

Unusually concentrated here

Occupations against their national share, 2024
Occupation Concentration Employed Median
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 9.08× 1,450 $46,900
Machinists 6.4× 1,730 $49,930
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders 3.99× 1,380 $38,970
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 2.77× 3,650 $45,690
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers 2.63× 1,010 $50,300
Mechanical Engineers 2.31× 600 $92,840
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 2.26× 6,080 $43,130
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 2.18× 1,170 $45,260
Industrial Engineers 2.09× 660 $83,420
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 1.75× 1,080 $68,020
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria 1.71× 690 $32,070
Bus Drivers, School 1.62× 570 $43,950

Best paid occupations

Highest median pay in Rockford
Occupation Median Hourly Employed
Pharmacists $139,570 $67.10 260
Computer and Information Systems Managers $135,190 $65.00 220
Architectural and Engineering Managers $133,820 $64.34 230
Nurse Practitioners $130,130 $62.56 340
Financial Managers $126,530 $60.83 570
Sales Managers $124,950 $60.07 440
Managers, All Other $123,460 $59.36 480
Marketing Managers $117,580 $56.53 210
Human Resources Managers $112,310 $54.00 220
Medical and Health Services Managers $109,790 $52.78 520
Industrial Production Managers $108,770 $52.29 440
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers $102,560 $49.31 230
Software Developers $102,510 $49.28 410
Lawyers $101,210 $48.66 330
Physical Therapists $100,900 $48.51 280
Construction Managers $100,820 $48.47 340
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers $97,670 $46.96 420
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators $96,740 $46.51 280
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary $96,710 n/a 450
General and Operations Managers $95,860 $46.09 3,100
Management Analysts $95,730 $46.02 200
Mechanical Engineers $92,840 $44.64 600
Industrial Engineers $83,420 $40.11 660
Dental Hygienists $82,970 $39.89 350
Registered Nurses $81,560 $39.21 4,340
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers $81,490 $39.18 600
Electricians $80,470 $38.69 430
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters $79,990 $38.46 440
Project Management Specialists $78,480 $37.73 380
Firefighters $78,060 $37.53 360
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $77,750 $37.38 500
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $74,950 n/a 980
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education $74,690 n/a 700
Carpenters $74,670 $35.90 970
Buyers and Purchasing Agents $70,670 $33.98 410
Accountants and Auditors $70,050 $33.68 800
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $68,810 $33.08 200
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers $68,020 $32.70 1,080
Industrial Machinery Mechanics $67,520 $32.46 230
Healthcare Social Workers $66,800 $32.12 200
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians $65,190 $31.34 220
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers $64,760 $31.14 820
Human Resources Specialists $62,830 $30.21 590
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products $62,770 $30.18 1,440
Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $62,640 $30.12 210
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents $62,300 $29.95 230
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $62,090 $29.85 520
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors $62,010 $29.81 250
Business Operations Specialists, All Other $61,320 $29.48 570
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School $61,040 n/a 290
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education $60,970 n/a 1,520
Food Service Managers $60,850 $29.26 310
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks $59,870 $28.78 320
Massage Therapists $59,760 $28.73 210
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists $59,750 $28.73 360
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,710 $28.71 1,490
Postal Service Mail Carriers $57,480 $27.64 410
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $57,350 $27.57 720
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel $57,240 $27.52 800
Tool and Die Makers $54,660 $26.28 390

Where most people work

Largest occupations in Rockford by employment
Occupation Employed Median Hourly
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 6,080 $43,130 $20.74
Registered Nurses 4,340 $81,560 $39.21
Fast Food and Counter Workers 4,190 $30,340 $14.59
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators 3,650 $45,690 $21.97
Stockers and Order Fillers 3,590 $35,420 $17.03
Cashiers 3,340 $30,250 $14.54
Retail Salespersons 3,180 $32,150 $15.46
General and Operations Managers 3,100 $95,860 $46.09
Home Health and Personal Care Aides 2,750 $33,770 $16.23
Office Clerks, General 2,290 $38,960 $18.73
Customer Service Representatives 2,270 $40,840 $19.64
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 2,190 $35,430 $17.03
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General 2,060 $51,590 $24.80
Waiters and Waitresses 1,820 $29,120 $14.00
Nursing Assistants 1,790 $38,960 $18.73
Machinists 1,730 $49,930 $24.00
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 1,540 $44,620 $21.45
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education 1,520 $60,970 n/a
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 1,490 $59,710 $28.71
Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators 1,450 $46,900 $22.55

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 state estimates. Wage and salary workers only, excluding the self-employed.

Other Illinois metro areas

Rockford pay: common questions

What is the average salary in Rockford?

The median across all occupations is $45,970, or $22.10 an hour, covering 139,310 wage and salary workers. The mean is $59,130, higher because a small number of very large salaries pull an average upward.

Does Rockford pay more than the rest of Illinois?

No. The metro median of $45,970 is 8.1% below the Illinois median of $50,000. Metropolitan areas usually pay more than their states because they concentrate higher-paying industries, and usually cost more to live in for the same reason.

Which jobs pay best in Rockford?

Pharmacists ($139,570), Computer and Information Systems Managers ($135,190), Architectural and Engineering Managers ($133,820). Medical specialities top nearly every metro list, which reflects how the occupations are classified more than local conditions.

What is Rockford unusually full of?

Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators, at 9.08× the national concentration. Location quotient is a better description of a local economy than its biggest employers, which are retail and food service almost everywhere.