Media and Communication Workers, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,400 or more. The middle half of other media and communication workers in Chicago earn between $62,760 and $99,290.
- $62K10th
- $63K25th
- $90KMedian
- $99K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,940 | $7,245 | $41.80 |
| Median | $89,620 | $7,468 | $43.09 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,760 | $5,230 | $30.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $99,290 | $8,274 | $47.74 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Media and Communication Workers, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other media and communication workers in Chicago earn 39% more than the Illinois average ($62,770) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($83,860). At the median the gap is +22% against the U.S. median of $73,620.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $86,940 | $89,620 | $61,860 | $131,400 | n/a |
| Illinois | $62,770 | $60,730 | $31,200 | $119,740 | n/a |
| United States | $83,860 | $73,620 | $39,120 | $134,270 | 19,590 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Media and Communication Workers, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $86,940, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $65,830 a year, or $5,486 a month and $2,532 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 | $67,414 | $5,618 |
| Working in IL | $65,830 | $5,486 |
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 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 $86,940 buys what about $83,923 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 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Media and Communication Workers, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$75,450
- Cincinnati, OH$51,820
- Clarksville, TN$30,270
- Minneapolis, MN$61,400
- Nashville, TN$56,580
- Kansas City, MO$72,340
Highest-paying cities for other media and communication workers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($107,320).
- San Francisco, CA$107,320
- Los Angeles, CA$98,880
- San Diego, CA$95,940
- New York, NY$89,390
- Sacramento, CA$88,040
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Media and Communication Workers, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other media and communication workers make an hour in Chicago?
$41.80 an hour on average, and $43.09 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other media and communication workers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other media and communication workers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $65,830 a year ($5,486 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,940.
Do other media and communication workers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($83,860).
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 27-3099; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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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