Craft Artists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $68,080 or more. The middle half of craft artists in Chicago earn between $33,670 and $68,080.
- $34K10th
- $34K25th
- $49KMedian
- $68K75th
- $68K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $51,560 | $4,297 | $24.79 |
| Median | $49,200 | $4,100 | $23.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,670 | $2,806 | $16.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $68,080 | $5,673 | $32.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Craft Artists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Craft artists in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($48,650) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($49,740). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $46,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $51,560 | $49,200 | $33,670 | $68,080 | 100 |
| Illinois | $48,650 | $43,040 | $33,670 | $68,080 | n/a |
| United States | $49,740 | $46,080 | $25,960 | $71,990 | 4,580 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Craft Artists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $51,560, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $41,197 a year, or $3,433 a month and $1,585 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 | $42,092 | $3,508 |
| Working in IL | $41,197 | $3,433 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for craft artists? 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 $51,560 buys what about $49,771 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 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Craft Artists salary in nearby metro areas
- Indianapolis, IN$55,350
- Detroit, MI$30,990
- Cincinnati, OH$43,630
- Cleveland, OH$41,750
- Washington, DC$51,360
- Atlanta, GA$70,020
Highest-paying cities for craft artists
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($113,080).
- Los Angeles, CA$113,080
- Atlanta, GA$70,020
- Portland, OR$55,980
- Philadelphia, PA$55,510
- Indianapolis, IN$55,350
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Craft Artists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do craft artists make an hour in Chicago?
$24.79 an hour on average, and $23.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level craft artists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,670, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the craft artists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $41,197 a year ($3,433 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $51,560.
Do craft artists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($49,740).
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 27-1012; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.2%.
- 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 0.72, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.72).
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