2026 Edition · An annual reference on what work pays

Chicago

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area. 110 published occupation pages; regional price parity 103.6 (US = 100).

Data released May 2025 BLS OEWS · 110 occupations
Table 1 — By occupation

What Chicago pays

Median annual pay for every published occupation in the metro, exactly as released.

OccupationMedianEmployment
Computer and Information Systems Managers$173,76024,950
Financial Managers$168,81041,590
Lawyers$165,66028,320
Marketing Managers$165,34017,400
Sales Managers$158,69025,390
Human Resources Managers$156,77010,810
Managers, All Other$145,37026,170
Software Developers$134,38040,370
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$128,78011,050
Medical and Health Services Managers$123,09016,680
Construction Managers$117,28013,850
First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$111,26013,420
General and Operations Managers$109,390122,930
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$107,81022,680
Project Management Specialists$105,32021,040
Management Analysts$105,09037,510
Computer Systems Analysts$103,49014,660
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$103,38012,750
Electricians$102,35017,720
Industrial Engineers$101,76012,750
Financial and Investment Analysts$101,75017,150
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$100,76024,080
Registered Nurses$100,490100,240
Civil Engineers$100,1609,760
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$98,97032,790
Physicians, All Other$94,82016,950
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$85,42011,630
Firefighters$82,82014,560
Accountants and Auditors$82,36041,360
Business Operations Specialists, All Other$81,17021,760
Carpenters$80,44014,220
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$80,40030,970
Logisticians$79,90010,220
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$79,69011,210
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$78,39045,840
Human Resources Specialists$78,21026,470
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,07011,420
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$78,00017,300
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$77,77010,620
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,50020,970
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$75,35038,490
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,73033,180
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$70,71055,730
Paralegals and Legal Assistants$70,55011,590
Insurance Sales Agents$69,24011,870
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling$68,33019,280
Training and Development Specialists$67,05010,940
Child, Family, and School Social Workers$64,79013,550
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$64,7309,790
Postal Service Mail Carriers$63,75010,320
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$62,30062,210
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors$61,60015,580
Construction Laborers$60,89026,690
Computer User Support Specialists$60,73019,680
Machinists$59,52011,270
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$58,02045,710
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$55,32020,140
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$51,44035,660
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$50,44050,190
Billing and Posting Clerks$49,96013,610
Bus Drivers, School$49,18015,210
Dental Assistants$48,95010,490
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$48,90026,770
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$48,23023,080
Light Truck Drivers$47,95034,680
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$47,95022,320
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$47,74026,030
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$47,68020,020
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$47,68016,350
Medical Assistants$47,27015,640
Social and Human Service Assistants$47,18016,080
Customer Service Representatives$47,10075,240
Nursing Assistants$46,94045,850
Pharmacy Technicians$46,82015,830
Office Clerks, General$46,33066,840
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$45,28025,160
Self-Enrichment Teachers$45,02012,740
Tellers$44,5409,930
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$43,46011,110
Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,29021,830
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$43,05017,180
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$42,65030,180
Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$41,1609,750
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,550157,920
Driver/Sales Workers$40,49010,190
Security Guards$39,99048,360
Cooks, Restaurant$38,93041,690
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$38,47070,000
Stockers and Order Fillers$38,45079,850
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$38,29014,010
Receptionists and Information Clerks$38,06030,540
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$37,84046,770
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$37,31018,260
Bakers$37,2309,920
Dishwashers$36,85011,910
Childcare Workers$36,61017,540
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$36,58012,030
Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,18017,960
Recreation Workers$35,83013,670
Retail Salespersons$35,82096,950
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,67012,200
Food Preparation Workers$35,41027,100
Cooks, Fast Food$35,36010,460
Cashiers$35,01099,240
Fast Food and Counter Workers$34,63097,280
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$34,26012,000
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$31,72013,390
Waiters and Waitresses$31,20054,100
Bartenders$31,20028,750
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$31,20018,100
Sources

How this page was made

Wage data
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release. Public domain.

Medians are reported exactly as released. We take no payment for how any figure is presented.