Medical Assistants pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,600 a year or less, while the top 10% make $57,360 or more. The middle half of medical assistants in Chicago earn between $40,690 and $50,260.
- $37K10th
- $41K25th
- $47KMedian
- $50K75th
- $57K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,080 | $3,923 | $22.63 |
| Median | $47,270 | $3,939 | $22.73 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $40,690 | $3,391 | $19.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $50,260 | $4,188 | $24.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Assistants pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Medical assistants in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($45,770) and about the same as the U.S. average ($46,120). At the median the gap is +3% against the U.S. median of $45,690.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $47,080 | $47,270 | $36,600 | $57,360 | 15,640 |
| Illinois | $45,770 | $46,090 | $36,400 | $56,590 | 20,260 |
| United States | $46,120 | $45,690 | $36,050 | $59,310 | 817,870 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Assistants salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $47,080, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $37,819 a year, or $3,152 a month and $1,455 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 | $38,626 | $3,219 |
| Working in IL | $37,819 | $3,152 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for medical assistants? 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 $47,080 buys what about $45,446 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 7.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Assistants salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$47,080
- Rockford$44,020
- Springfield$43,790
- Decatur$43,700
- Peoria$43,060
- Bloomington$42,890
- Champaign$42,860
- Kankakee$40,820
Highest-paying cities for medical assistants
Vallejo, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,730).
- Vallejo, CA$66,730
- San Jose, CA$65,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$64,160
- San Francisco, CA$63,330
- Napa, CA$62,580
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Medical Assistants salary in Chicago: questions
How much do medical assistants make an hour in Chicago?
$22.63 an hour on average, and $22.73 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical assistants salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,600 a year and the 25th percentile is $40,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical assistants take-home pay in Chicago?
About $37,819 a year ($3,152 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,080.
Do medical assistants earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($46,120).
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 31-9092; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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