Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,060 or more. The middle half of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in Chicago earn between $34,860 and $63,790.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $49KMedian
- $64K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,690 | $4,974 | $28.70 |
| Median | $49,470 | $4,122 | $23.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,860 | $2,905 | $16.76 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,790 | $5,316 | $30.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in Chicago earn 9% more than the Illinois average ($54,760) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($78,720). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $47,340.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $59,690 | $49,470 | $31,200 | $91,060 | 480 |
| Illinois | $54,760 | $46,720 | $31,200 | $82,720 | 770 |
| United States | $78,720 | $47,340 | $28,190 | $138,440 | 21,240 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $59,690, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $47,327 a year, or $3,944 a month and $1,820 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 | $48,380 | $4,032 |
| Working in IL | $47,327 | $3,944 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys? 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 $59,690 buys what about $57,619 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$71,020
- South Bend, IN$51,340
- Madison, WI$62,690
- Grand Rapids, MI$58,300
- Fort Wayne, IN$51,870
- Indianapolis, IN$68,230
Highest-paying cities for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($230,140).
- New York, NY$230,140
- Las Vegas, NV$132,860
- Miami, FL$132,390
- Houston, TX$126,580
- Boston, MA$124,580
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Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary in Chicago: questions
How much do broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys make an hour in Chicago?
$28.70 an hour on average, and $23.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys take-home pay in Chicago?
About $47,327 a year ($3,944 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,690.
Do broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($78,720).
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 27-3011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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