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Salaries in Chicago by Occupation
Average pay by occupation in the Chicago metro area: 36 jobs ranked by annual salary from official U.S. BLS OEWS wage data. Figures cover the whole Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan area, not just city centers.
Source: U.S. BLS OEWS metro data (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI) · Last verified: 2026-10-08 · Methodology
Chicago pay by occupation
| Occupation | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|
| Financial Managers | $87.01 | $180,980 |
| Marketing Managers | $77.54 | $161,280 |
| Software Developers | $61.52 | $127,960 |
| Information Security Analysts | $58.99 | $122,700 |
| Data Scientists | $56.04 | $116,570 |
| Project Management Specialists | $50.11 | $104,220 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $44.53 | $92,630 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $44.26 | $92,060 |
| Electricians | $44.02 | $91,560 |
| Registered Nurses | $43.66 | $90,810 |
| Web Developers | $43.63 | $90,740 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $43.02 | $89,490 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $40.85 | $84,960 |
| Firefighters | $39.71 | $82,600 |
| Carpenters | $36.85 | $76,640 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $36.03 | $74,940 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $35.50 | $73,830 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $34.16 | $71,060 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $32.99 | $68,620 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $32.53 | $67,670 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $31.13 | $64,740 |
| Graphic Designers | $30.27 | $62,970 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $29.96 | $62,320 |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | $26.93 | $56,020 |
| Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | $26.93 | $56,010 |
| Light Truck Drivers | $25.13 | $52,280 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $24.50 | $50,970 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $22.46 | $46,710 |
| Office Clerks, General | $22.13 | $46,040 |
| Phlebotomists | $21.61 | $44,940 |
| Medical Assistants | $21.25 | $44,200 |
| Nursing Assistants | $20.40 | $42,430 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $19.63 | $40,840 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $18.76 | $39,020 |
| Retail Salespersons | $18.65 | $38,790 |
| Receptionists and Information Clerks | $18.16 | $37,780 |
Highest-paying occupations in Chicago
- Financial Managers — $180,980 a year
- Marketing Managers — $161,280 a year
- Software Developers — $127,960 a year
- Information Security Analysts — $122,700 a year
- Data Scientists — $116,570 a year
Wages above cover the whole Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro. For statewide context, see the Illinois salary page, or browse all 36 salary guides.
Frequently asked questions
Which occupation pays the most in Chicago?
Financial Managers leads, at about $180,980 a year in the latest BLS OEWS release (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro).
Where does the data come from?
Official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS wages for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan statistical area, verified on 2026-10-08. Each occupation links to its full state-by-state table.
Is this pay for the city or the whole metro?
Pay covers the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI MSA — the city plus surrounding counties — which is exactly how the BLS publishes local wage data. Neighborhood-level pay varies.
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