Wage Rates
Wages in DeKalb County are somewhat lower than the Rockford and Chicago metropolitan areas. Local employers experience relatively low absentee and turnover rates especially among companies paying $7-8/hour for unskilled/semi-skilled positions. New and existing companies are eligible for membership in the DeKalb County Association for Human Resource Management.
HOURLY WAGE RATE SUMMARY
Occupation |
Entry Wage |
Average Wage |
Top Wage |
| Accounting Clerk | $13.71 |
$16.31 |
$18.15 |
| Administrative Assistant | $14.89 |
$19.77 |
$20.35 |
| Assembler-Production | $11.58 |
$13.15 |
$15.25 |
| Computer/LAN/WAN Administrator | $17.74 |
$26.57 |
$29.33 |
| Data Entry Operator | $12.79 |
$13.01 |
$15.77 |
| Engineer | $23.13 |
$25.50 |
$39.75 |
| Janitor / Porter / Cleaner | $11.52 |
$12.84 |
$15.24 |
| Laborer | $8.00 |
$13.63 |
$25.87 |
| Machinist | $14.00 |
$15.05 |
$15.45 |
| Maintenance Machanic | $18.13 |
$21.23 |
$24.09 |
| Office Clerk | $12.33 |
$15.43 |
$17.89 |
| Secretary | $13.52 |
$14.84 |
$18.27 |
| Shipping / Receiving Clerk | $13.92 |
$15.84 |
$17.67 |
| Tool & Die Maker | $15.98 |
$18.79 |
$22.98 |
| Truck Driver | $14.97 |
$18.83 |
$20.79 |
| Warehouse Worker/Lift Truck Operator | $12.41 |
$14.66 |
$16.91 |
| Welder | $13.00 |
$17.80 |
$19.00 |
| Source: DCEDC Study in 2009 |
