Human Resources Specialists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,220 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Chicago earn between $61,470 and $100,550.
- $50K10th
- $61K25th
- $78KMedian
- $101K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,190 | $6,932 | $40.00 |
| Median | $78,210 | $6,518 | $37.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,470 | $5,122 | $29.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,550 | $8,379 | $48.34 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($81,480) and about the same as the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $83,190 | $78,210 | $49,580 | $125,220 | 26,470 |
| Illinois | $81,480 | $76,820 | $48,980 | $123,940 | 35,430 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $83,190, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $63,377 a year, or $5,281 a month and $2,438 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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 | $64,888 | $5,407 |
| Working in IL | $63,377 | $5,281 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for human resources specialists? 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 $83,190 buys what about $80,303 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$83,190
- Springfield$80,210
- Peoria$78,360
- Bloomington$77,970
- Champaign$73,500
- Rockford$70,110
- Decatur$69,170
- Kankakee$67,550
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Human Resources Specialists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Chicago?
$39.99 an hour on average, and $37.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,470, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $63,377 a year ($5,281 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,190.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
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 13-1071; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.