Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $171,790 or more. The middle half of other media and communication equipment workers in Chicago earn between $64,980 and $129,580.
- $42K10th
- $65K25th
- $85KMedian
- $130K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,970 | $8,248 | $47.58 |
| Median | $85,400 | $7,117 | $41.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,980 | $5,415 | $31.24 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,580 | $10,798 | $62.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other media and communication equipment workers in Chicago earn 29% more than the Illinois average ($76,460) and 22% more than the U.S. average ($81,040). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $70,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $98,970 | $85,400 | $42,400 | $171,790 | 50 |
| Illinois | $76,460 | $72,430 | $31,200 | $133,270 | 140 |
| United States | $81,040 | $70,720 | $38,870 | $135,470 | 12,450 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $98,970, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $73,697 a year, or $6,141 a month and $2,835 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $75,516 | $6,293 |
| Working in IL | $73,697 | $6,141 |
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 media and communication equipment workers? 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 $98,970 buys what about $95,535 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Detroit, MI$93,520
- St. Louis, MO$97,100
- Columbus, OH$86,930
- Nashville, TN$72,780
- Omaha, NE$102,530
- Pittsburgh, PA$72,350
Highest-paying cities for other media and communication equipment workers
Salinas, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($127,770).
- Salinas, CA$127,770
- Washington, DC$115,610
- Colorado Springs, CO$114,200
- Tampa, FL$108,900
- Fayetteville, NC$107,790
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other salary by city
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Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other media and communication equipment workers make an hour in Chicago?
$47.58 an hour on average, and $41.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other media and communication equipment workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other media and communication equipment workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $73,697 a year ($6,141 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,970.
Do other media and communication equipment workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% more than the U.S. average for this job ($81,040).
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 27-4099; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.6%.
- 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 0.14, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.14).
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