Tapers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,500 or more. The middle half of tapers in Chicago earn between $109,280 and $113,950.
- $79K10th
- $109K25th
- $113KMedian
- $114K75th
- $116K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,620 | $8,802 | $50.78 |
| Median | $113,180 | $9,432 | $54.41 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,280 | $9,107 | $52.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $113,950 | $9,496 | $54.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tapers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Tapers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($107,380) and 45% more than the U.S. average ($72,710). At the median the gap is +66% against the U.S. median of $68,270.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $105,620 | $113,180 | $79,230 | $116,500 | 290 |
| Illinois | $107,380 | $113,180 | $79,230 | $116,500 | 320 |
| United States | $72,710 | $68,270 | $43,670 | $107,110 | 12,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tapers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $105,620, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $78,047 a year, or $6,504 a month and $3,002 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $79,995 | $6,666 |
| Working in IL | $78,047 | $6,504 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for tapers? 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 $105,620 buys what about $101,955 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Tapers salary in nearby metro areas
- Lansing, MI$61,300
- St. Louis, MO$72,800
- Des Moines, IA$67,030
- Cleveland, OH$73,520
- Minneapolis, MN$80,130
- Kansas City, MO$71,350
Highest-paying cities for tapers
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($105,620).
- Chicago, IL$105,620
- San Jose, CA$99,680
- San Francisco, CA$90,220
- Philadelphia, PA$89,200
- Honolulu, HI$88,800
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Tapers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do tapers make an hour in Chicago?
$50.78 an hour on average, and $54.41 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tapers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tapers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $78,047 a year ($6,504 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,620.
Do tapers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 45% more than the U.S. average for this job ($72,710).
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 47-2082; 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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