Bloomington Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Bloomington, IL: $23.77/hr median hourly wage, $49,437 median annual salary, cost of living index 92.5, and $14.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Illinois taxes.
Bloomington Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Bloomington, IL is $23.77/hr, equivalent to $49,437 per year at 2,080 work hours. Entry-level pay estimates around $14.74/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $33.75/hr, and the local minimum wage is $14.00/hr.
Bloomington salary source review
Reviewed May 26, 2026 for Bloomington-Normal metro insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics labor market context.
Bloomington compensation is strongly shaped by Bloomington-Normal employers, insurance operations, Illinois State University, healthcare systems, manufacturing, and regional logistics. A salary of $49,437 in Bloomington converts to about $39,455 after estimated 2026 federal, FICA, state, and local income taxes before benefits or retirement deductions.
- Separate insurance, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and education offers because those sectors can sit far above or below the citywide median.
- Illinois flat income tax and moderate housing costs both matter when comparing Bloomington with Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis, or remote offers.
- Use hourly equivalent, commute time, bonus structure, overtime, and benefits to judge whether a lower gross salary still wins on real take-home value.
Median Salary
$49,437
$23.77/hr
Cost of Living
92.5
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$14.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.9%
rate
Bloomington, IL Overview
Population
78,902
Median Salary
$49,437
Average Salary
$55,369
Avg Commute
17 min
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Rent
$819/mo
Job Growth
+2.4%
Sales Tax
6.25%
Bloomington is located in Illinois with a population of 78,902. The median household salary is $49,437 per year ($23.77/hour), which is $9,947 below the national median of $59,384. The average commute time is 17 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.4%.
Bloomington Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Bloomington, IL based on BLS percentile breakdown of the $49,437 median salary. Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $30,651 | $14.74/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $49,437 | $23.77/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $70,201 | $33.75/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $87,998 | $42.31/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) derived from 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics distribution across all occupations in metro areas. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Bloomington Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Bloomington, IL, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,455
$3,287.96/month · $1,517.52/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.2%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,517.52 take-home per paycheck after estimated Illinois and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$49,437
Federal Tax
-$3,752
State Tax
-$2,447
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,782
Net Pay
$39,455
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,119.75 | $49,437.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$312.70 | -$3,752.44 |
| Illinois State Tax (4.95%) | -$203.93 | -$2,447.13 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$255.42 | -$3,065.09 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$59.74 | -$716.84 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,287.96 | $39,455.50 |
Salary Comparison: Bloomington vs Other Cities
See how Bloomington's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $49,437 | 92.5 | $53,445 |
| National Average | $59,384 | 100 | $59,384 |
| Niles, IL | $49,437 | 94.9 | $52,094 |
| Woodridge, IL | $49,443 | 93.5 | $52,880 |
| Plainfield, IN | $49,446 | 78.4 | $63,069 |
| Greenwood, IN | $49,411 | 90.8 | $54,417 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Bloomington
Bloomington's cost of living index is 92.5 (national average = 100). Living in Bloomington is 7.5% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$195,000
Median Monthly Rent
$819
Annual Rent Cost
$9,828
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,455 annual take-home pay in Bloomington has the purchasing power of approximately $42,655 in an average-cost US area. Your $49,437 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Bloomington
Bloomington's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $49,437.
Salary Tips for Bloomington Workers
- Research top industries. Bloomington's top industries include Finance, Manufacturing, Technology. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $49,437 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Bloomington salary data: Our citywide compensation figures aggregate occupation-specific salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Bloomington-IL metropolitan statistical area (MSA), weighted by local employment counts. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Bloomington indexed at 92.5.
- Median salary calculation: weighted average of Bloomington's occupation-specific medians from BLS OEWS, adjusted for local cost of living. Net result: $49,437 annual median.
- Tax burden reflects Illinois state income tax (4.95%) (no local income tax), sales tax (6.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Bloomington: 4.9%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Finance, Manufacturing, Technology — based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.4% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Illinois.
- Housing context: median home price $195,000, median rent $819/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Bloomington, IL:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — Bloomington unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau — Bloomington QuickFacts — population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) — county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance — Illinois — state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) — local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Bloomington's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines — always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Illinois labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Brazora Monk· Last updated 2026 · BLS & Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Bloomington, IL?
The median hourly wage in Bloomington, IL is $23.77 per hour. At a standard 2,080-hour work year, that equals about $49,437 per year. Entry-level workers are estimated around $14.74/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $33.75/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits.
What is the median salary in Bloomington, IL?
The median salary in Bloomington, IL is $49,437 per year, or $23.77 per hour. The average salary is $55,369. This is $9,947 below the national median of $59,384.
What is the cost of living in Bloomington, IL?
Bloomington's cost of living index is 92.5 (national average = 100), meaning it is 7.5% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $195,000 and the median monthly rent is $819.
What are the best industries in Bloomington?
The top industries in Bloomington, IL include Finance, Manufacturing, Technology. The city has a job growth rate of 2.4% and an unemployment rate of 4.9%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $49,437.
How does Bloomington's salary compare to other cities?
Bloomington's median salary of $49,437 is 16.8% below the national median of $59,384. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 92.5), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,445.
What is the minimum wage in Bloomington, IL?
The minimum wage in Bloomington, IL is $14.00 per hour. This equals approximately $29,120 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $6.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.