Bakers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $47,610 or more. The middle half of bakers in Chicago earn between $35,910 and $45,100.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $45K75th
- $48K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $39,820 | $3,318 | $19.14 |
| Median | $37,230 | $3,102 | $17.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,910 | $2,992 | $17.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $45,100 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bakers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Bakers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($38,960) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($38,480). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $37,160.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $39,820 | $37,230 | $32,370 | $47,610 | 9,920 |
| Illinois | $38,960 | $37,030 | $31,200 | $47,290 | 12,420 |
| United States | $38,480 | $37,160 | $28,120 | $49,020 | 236,200 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bakers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $39,820, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $32,345 a year, or $2,695 a month and $1,244 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $33,011 | $2,751 |
| Working in IL | $32,345 | $2,695 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for bakers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $39,820 buys what about $38,438 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Bakers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$39,820
- Kankakee$38,880
- Champaign$37,850
- Peoria$37,210
- Rockford$37,200
- Bloomington$36,470
- Springfield$36,350
Highest-paying cities for bakers
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,420).
- Kahului, HI$52,420
- Seattle, WA$48,930
- San Jose, CA$48,600
- Honolulu, HI$47,930
- Olympia, WA$47,540
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Bakers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do bakers make an hour in Chicago?
$19.15 an hour on average, and $17.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bakers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bakers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $32,345 a year ($2,695 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $39,820.
Do bakers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($38,480).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-3011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.45, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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