Human Resources Managers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $270,150 or more. The middle half of human resources managers in Chicago earn between $121,230 and $200,710.
- $93K10th
- $121K25th
- $157KMedian
- $201K75th
- $270K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $165,550 | $13,796 | $79.59 |
| Median | $156,770 | $13,064 | $75.37 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,230 | $10,102 | $58.28 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $200,710 | $16,726 | $96.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Managers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Human resources managers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($162,450) and about the same as the U.S. average ($164,230). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $149,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $165,550 | $156,770 | $93,230 | $270,150 | 10,810 |
| Illinois | $162,450 | $151,370 | $90,820 | $267,520 | 13,520 |
| United States | $164,230 | $149,280 | $88,200 | $267,810 | 220,660 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Managers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $165,550, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $116,366 a year, or $9,697 a month and $4,476 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 | $119,483 | $9,957 |
| Working in IL | $116,366 | $9,697 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for human resources managers? 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 $165,550 buys what about $159,805 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Managers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$165,550
- Bloomington$159,790
- Peoria$156,750
- Springfield$147,990
- Decatur$134,340
- Champaign$132,500
- Rockford$131,240
- Kankakee$126,200
Highest-paying cities for human resources managers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($257,750).
- San Jose, CA$257,750
- San Francisco, CA$219,270
- Bridgeport, CT$209,710
- New York, NY$204,790
- Boston, MA$197,730
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Human Resources Managers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do human resources managers make an hour in Chicago?
$79.59 an hour on average, and $75.37 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources managers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $93,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources managers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $116,366 a year ($9,697 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $165,550.
Do human resources managers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($164,230).
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 11-3121; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.69, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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