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By 2025, Chicago will continue to be among the most economically active cities in the United States where workers receive competitive wages and have a wide range of employment opportunities in different industries. Chicago has a median salary of USD 69,527/year and virtually the average is USD 65,250/year. These numbers indicate consistent growth over the past years as pushed by the demands in the field of finance, technology and health sectors. Nonetheless, an increase in the cost of living such as cost of homes and modes of transportation still influences the level of salary expectations. A comfortable lifestyle means that a household bringing in about USD 131,868 will make the best residents, and the role of balance between wages and affordability will be featured in 2025. Read, Average Salary in Houston 2025
Salary Snapshot: Chicago 2025
| Category / Metric | Average Value (USD) |
| Median Annual Salary | 65,250 |
| Average Annual Salary | 69,527 |
| Average Hourly Wage (Metro Area) | 34.42 |
| Average H1B Worker Salary | 103,102 |
| Comfortable Household Income | 131,868 |
| Federal Worker Pay (Starting) | 29,260 |
| Minimum Wage (2025) | 16.60/hour |
Chicago’s Earning Trends and Cost of Living
The data on salary offers a promising and brimming picture to specialists in Chicago. Although the median salary at USD 65,250 implies that most workers have been in the middle part of the income scale, the statistic that average earnings are a bit higher at USD 69,527 implies that they have finance, IT, and management industries that are driving down the high-paying end of the income scale.
Simultaneously, hourly earnings with an average of USD 34.42 for the whole metro region elevate Chicago to the category of the highly remunerated region in the Midwest. Specialised employees such as engineers, analysts, and developers tend to have significantly higher incomes that are higher than average. The service oriented sectors and hospitality jobs, on the contrary, are still near the lowest wage point of USD 16.60 per hour in the city.
The cost of living has increased significantly; this is notwithstanding the encouraging levels of salary. Prices of home designs have gone up, healthcare costs are becoming expensive, and transportation expenditure is going up forcing financial analysts to predict that at least USD 131,868 would be necessary per annum to ensure a comfortable level of lifestyle. Such disparity in revenues and expenditures raises the question of the escalating financial pressure on average U.S. residents.
Going to work in foreign countries on a H1B visa means remuneration in the realm of competition as, on average, indigenous workers in Chicago alone earn USD 103,102 because technology and consulting firms are being attracted to foreign workers. Employees of the federal and public sector also enjoy the aspect of locality adjustments thus keeping their pay consistent with the city costs index.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it pay in Chicago in the year 2025?
The annual median earnings of the city of Chicago is around USD 69,527 per annum with 65,250 in the middle.
What will it have required to live comfortably in Chicago?
Researchers indicate that a family will need approximately USD 131,868 of yearly income to have an average lifestyle.
Which businesses are the most profitable in Chicago?
The most well-paid industries in 2025 are technology, finance, management, and legal services.
What is the lowest wage rate in Chicago in 2025?
In July 2025, the minimum wage will be USD 16.60 per hour.
How do Chicago salaries compare to the national average?
The salaries in Chicago are slightly above the national average, mostly because the city has a great sense of economic diversity and promotion of high cost of living.
