Cashiers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $41,280 or more. The middle half of cashiers in Chicago earn between $32,210 and $37,110.
- $31K10th
- $32K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $41K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $35,760 | $2,980 | $17.19 |
| Median | $35,010 | $2,918 | $16.83 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $32,210 | $2,684 | $15.49 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,110 | $3,092 | $17.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cashiers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Cashiers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($34,950) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($33,180). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $32,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $35,760 | $35,010 | $31,200 | $41,280 | 99,240 |
| Illinois | $34,950 | $34,490 | $31,200 | $38,480 | 139,630 |
| United States | $33,180 | $32,880 | $24,530 | $40,410 | 3,089,410 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cashiers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $35,760, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $29,284 a year, or $2,440 a month and $1,126 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% 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 | $29,870 | $2,489 |
| Working in IL | $29,284 | $2,440 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for cashiers? 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 $35,760 buys what about $34,519 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Cashiers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$35,760
- Champaign$33,750
- Rockford$33,600
- Springfield$33,480
- Decatur$33,320
- Bloomington$33,160
- Peoria$32,780
- Kankakee$32,650
Highest-paying cities for cashiers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($45,090).
- San Jose, CA$45,090
- Seattle, WA$44,720
- San Francisco, CA$43,260
- Kahului, HI$42,430
- Santa Rosa, CA$41,880
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Cashiers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do cashiers make an hour in Chicago?
$17.19 an hour on average, and $16.83 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cashiers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $32,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cashiers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $29,284 a year ($2,440 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $35,760.
Do cashiers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($33,180).
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 41-2011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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