Counselors, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $82,790 or more. The middle half of other counselors in Chicago earn between $34,090 and $62,190.
- $33K10th
- $34K25th
- $49KMedian
- $62K75th
- $83K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,500 | $4,458 | $25.72 |
| Median | $49,320 | $4,110 | $23.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,090 | $2,841 | $16.39 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,190 | $5,182 | $29.90 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Counselors, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other counselors in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($54,810) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($58,210). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $50,860.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $53,500 | $49,320 | $33,410 | $82,790 | n/a |
| Illinois | $54,810 | $49,360 | $33,410 | $83,440 | 760 |
| United States | $58,210 | $50,860 | $36,240 | $91,940 | 28,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Counselors, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $53,500, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $42,660 a year, or $3,555 a month and $1,641 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% 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 | $43,592 | $3,633 |
| Working in IL | $42,660 | $3,555 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for other counselors? 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 $53,500 buys what about $51,643 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 6.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Counselors, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$55,310
- Madison, WI$66,350
- Ann Arbor, MI$53,300
- Toledo, OH$41,850
- Detroit, MI$44,850
- St. Louis, MO$63,080
Highest-paying cities for other counselors
Trenton, NJ pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($101,850).
- Trenton, NJ$101,850
- Richmond, VA$99,730
- San Jose, CA$89,700
- Washington, DC$83,880
- Portland, OR$81,820
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Counselors, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other counselors make an hour in Chicago?
$25.72 an hour on average, and $23.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other counselors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other counselors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $42,660 a year ($3,555 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,500.
Do other counselors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($58,210).
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 21-1019; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.8%.
- 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).
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