Chicago Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Chicago, IL: $26.31/hr median hourly wage, $54,720 median annual salary, cost of living index 107, and $15.00/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Illinois taxes.
Chicago Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Chicago, IL is $26.31/hr,and the median annual wage is $54,720. Entry-level pay estimates around $16.31/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $37.36/hr, and the local minimum wage is $15.00/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area (4,513,280 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Chicago shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$54,720
$26.31/hr
Cost of Living
107
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$15.00
per hour
Unemployment
4.2%
rate
Chicago, IL Overview
Population
2,696,555
Median Salary
$54,720
Average Salary
$73,380
Avg Commute
35 min
Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Rent
$1,750/mo
Job Growth
+1.5%
Sales Tax
10.25%
Chicago is located in Illinois with a population of 2,696,555. The median annual wage across all occupations is $54,720 ($26.31/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro), which is $3,740 above the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 35 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +1.5%.
Chicago Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Chicago, IL built around the $54,720 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $33,926 | $16.31/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $54,720 | $26.31/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $77,702 | $37.36/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $97,402 | $46.83/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Chicago Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Chicago, IL, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$43,439
$3,619.91/month · $1,670.73/biweekly · Effective Rate: 20.6%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,670.73 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
$54,720
Federal Tax
-$4,386
State Tax
-$2,709
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$4,186
Net Pay
$43,439
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $4,560.00 | $54,720.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$365.53 | -$4,386.40 |
| Illinois State Tax (4.95% eff.) | -$225.72 | -$2,708.64 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$282.72 | -$3,392.64 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$66.12 | -$793.44 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,619.91 | $43,438.88 |
Salary Comparison: Chicago vs Other Cities
See how Chicago's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $54,720 | 107 | $51,140 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Aurora, IL | $54,720 | 95 | $57,600 |
| Joliet, IL | $54,720 | 90 | $60,800 |
| Naperville, IL | $54,720 | 118 | $46,373 |
| Elgin, IL | $54,720 | 95 | $57,600 |
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 Chicago
Chicago's cost of living index is 107 (national average = 100). Living in Chicago is 7% more expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$320,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,750
Annual Rent Cost
$21,000
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $43,439 annual take-home pay in Chicago has the purchasing power of approximately $40,597 in an average-cost US area. You would need to earn $58,550 in Chicago to match a $54,720 salary in an average-cost city.
Top Industries in Chicago
Chicago's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $54,720.
Salary Tips for Chicago Workers
- Research top industries. Chicago's top industries include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $54,720 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.
Job Salaries in Chicago, IL
Browse occupation-specific salaries for Chicago. Figures marked BLS are the BLS OEWS May 2025 median annual wage for that occupation in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (78 of 338); the rest are Salario estimates adjusted for Chicago's cost of living. Each page connects the benchmark with local take-home pay and market context.
Other Cities in Illinois
Cicero
Crystal Lake
Danville
Decatur
DeKalb
Des Plaines
Downers Grove
Elgin
Elk Grove Village
Elmhurst
Evanston
Galesburg
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Chicago salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Chicago indexed at 107.
- Median salary: $54,720 annual, $26.31 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN MSA (4,513,280 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $73,380 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Chicago was $72,500.
- Tax burden reflects Illinois 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 4.95%) (no local income tax), sales tax (10.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Chicago: 4.2%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Finance, Technology, Healthcare, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 1.5% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Illinois.
- Housing context: median home price $320,000, median rent $1,750/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Chicago, IL:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Chicago unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago 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. Chicago'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 Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
Explore Salaries Across the US
Compare salary data and cost of living for hundreds of US cities. Find out where your paycheck goes the furthest.
Related Salary Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Chicago, IL?
The median hourly wage in Chicago, IL is $26.31 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $54,720. Entry-level workers are estimated around $16.31/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $37.36/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Chicago, IL?
The median salary in Chicago, IL is $54,720 per year, or $26.31 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area). The BLS mean salary is $73,380. This is $3,740 above the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Chicago, IL?
Chicago's cost of living index is 107 (national average = 100), meaning it is 7% more expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $320,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,750.
What are the best industries in Chicago?
The top industries in Chicago, IL include Finance, Technology, Healthcare. The city has a job growth rate of 1.5% and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $54,720.
How does Chicago's salary compare to other cities?
Chicago's median salary of $54,720 is 7.3% above the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 107), the real purchasing power is approximately $51,140.
What is the minimum wage in Chicago, IL?
The minimum wage in Chicago, IL is $15.00 per hour. This equals approximately $31,200 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This is $7.75 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.