Paramedics pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,000 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,810 or more. The middle half of paramedics in Chicago earn between $59,840 and $106,810.
- $50K10th
- $60K25th
- $78KMedian
- $107K75th
- $107K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,400 | $6,950 | $40.10 |
| Median | $77,670 | $6,472 | $37.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,840 | $4,987 | $28.77 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,810 | $8,901 | $51.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Paramedics pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Paramedics in Chicago earn 15% more than the Illinois average ($72,570) and 32% more than the U.S. average ($63,360). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $60,600.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $83,400 | $77,670 | $50,000 | $106,810 | 2,560 |
| Illinois | $72,570 | $60,660 | $47,210 | $106,810 | 3,890 |
| United States | $63,360 | $60,600 | $44,230 | $84,850 | 100,610 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Paramedics salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $83,400, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $63,515 a year, or $5,293 a month and $2,443 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 | $65,030 | $5,419 |
| Working in IL | $63,515 | $5,293 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for paramedics? 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 $83,400 buys what about $80,506 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Paramedics salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for paramedics
Bellingham, WA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($119,190).
- Bellingham, WA$119,190
- Seattle, WA$117,660
- Bremerton, WA$110,800
- Olympia, WA$109,680
- Mount Vernon, WA$106,520
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Paramedics salary in Chicago: questions
How much do paramedics make an hour in Chicago?
$40.10 an hour on average, and $37.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level paramedics salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,000 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the paramedics take-home pay in Chicago?
About $63,515 a year ($5,293 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,400.
Do paramedics earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 32% more than the U.S. average for this job ($63,360).
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 29-2043; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- 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 0.88, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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