Chief Executives pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $142,940 a year or less, while the top 10% make $599,520 or more. The middle half of chief executives in Chicago earn between $197,530 and $428,710.
- $143K10th
- $198K25th
- $345KMedian
- $429K75th
- $600K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $357,220 | $29,768 | $171.74 |
| Median | $344,960 | $28,747 | $165.85 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $197,530 | $16,461 | $94.97 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $428,710 | $35,726 | $206.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chief Executives pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Chief executives in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($347,550) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($269,630). At the median the gap is +61% against the U.S. median of $213,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $357,220 | $344,960 | $142,940 | $599,520 | 3,610 |
| Illinois | $347,550 | $331,920 | $133,170 | $589,720 | 4,620 |
| United States | $269,630 | $213,990 | $75,700 | $507,730 | 204,350 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chief Executives salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $357,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $233,484 a year, or $19,457 a month and $8,980 every two weeks. Taxes take 35% 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 | $240,338 | $20,028 |
| Working in IL | $233,484 | $19,457 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for chief executives? 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 $357,220 buys what about $344,824 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 6.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 1.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Chief Executives salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($385,520).
- Champaign$385,520
- Chicago$357,220
- Rockford$329,940
- Springfield$326,680
- Peoria$312,950
- Decatur$244,740
Highest-paying cities for chief executives
Medford, OR pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($503,650).
- Medford, OR$503,650
- Midland, MI$493,680
- Bridgeport, CT$447,290
- Durham, NC$425,580
- Portland, OR$420,320
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Chief Executives salary in Chicago: questions
How much do chief executives make an hour in Chicago?
$171.74 an hour on average, and $165.85 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chief executives salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $142,940 a year and the 25th percentile is $197,530, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chief executives take-home pay in Chicago?
About $233,484 a year ($19,457 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $357,220.
Do chief executives earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($269,630).
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 11-1011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.2%.
- 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 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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