Salary context for Chicago
BEA’s 2024 regional price-parity index for Chicago is 103.6, 3.6 points above the U.S. baseline. That index summarizes the regional price level; it is not a monthly rent estimate or a personal expense multiplier. The wage figures below come from a prior survey period and may differ from today’s offers.
Annual pay for 17 frequently researched occupations
Each median is calculated for the actual Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area in May 2025. Gross monthly equivalents are annual medians divided by 12, before taxes, rent and benefits. Percentiles describe the wage distribution, not guaranteed junior or senior compensation.
| Occupation | Annual median | 25th–75th percentile | Gross / month | Try a move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $82,640–$108,430 | $8,374 | Model offer → |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $104,530–$167,650 | $11,198 | Model offer → |
| Nurse Practitioners | $131,740 | $118,710–$149,150 | $10,978 | Model offer → |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $72,280–$103,120 | $6,863 | Model offer → |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $60,630–$102,430 | $6,533 | Model offer → |
| General and Operations Managers | $109,390 | $76,900–$175,170 | $9,116 | Model offer → |
| Electricians | $102,350 | $74,400–$118,660 | $8,529 | Model offer → |
| Construction Managers | $117,280 | $82,330–$151,650 | $9,773 | Model offer → |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $50,580–$77,660 | $5,192 | Model offer → |
| Physical Therapists | $105,720 | $98,120–$123,720 | $8,810 | Model offer → |
| Marketing Managers | $165,340 | $127,450–$213,290 | $13,778 | Model offer → |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,750 | $79,330–$129,950 | $8,479 | Model offer → |
| Human Resources Specialists | $78,210 | $61,470–$100,550 | $6,518 | Model offer → |
| Graphic Designers | $66,490 | $52,030–$83,590 | $5,541 | Model offer → |
| Dental Hygienists | $100,260 | $86,330–$102,340 | $8,355 | Model offer → |
| Information Security Analysts | $125,310 | $99,760–$158,210 | $10,443 | Model offer → |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | $51,440 | $45,620–$61,610 | $4,287 | Model offer → |
Chicago compared with Indianapolis
Compare the same occupation medians with Indianapolis. Differences in gross survey pay are not differences in disposable income: housing prices, benefits, tax situations and moving costs are absent from this table.
| Occupation | Chicago | Indianapolis | Median pay difference | Calculate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $100,490 | $84,230 | +$16,260 | Compare budgets ↗ |
| Software Developers | $134,380 | $106,870 | +$27,510 | Compare budgets ↗ |
| Nurse Practitioners | $131,740 | $130,460 | +$1,280 | Compare budgets ↗ |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $79,290 | +$3,070 | Compare budgets ↗ |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,390 | $60,510 | +$17,880 | Compare budgets ↗ |
How much of an offer would you keep after moving?
The salary alone cannot settle whether a move is financially worthwhile. Use the linked scenarios as starting benchmarks, then replace all values with real employment terms, both rental quotes, expected household expenses and effective tax assumptions. The calculator estimates the change in monthly cash flow and the time needed to recover moving expenses.
- Match your work. A broad occupation category may hide major differences in seniority, shifts and benefits.
- Use actual housing costs. A BEA price index is not rent; a HUD Fair Market Rent is a program benchmark, not a listing price.
- Budget the transition. Include overlap between leases, transport, refundable deposits and any verified employer reimbursement.