Riggers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $90,790 or more. The middle half of riggers in Chicago earn between $68,240 and $83,290.
- $68K10th
- $68K25th
- $82KMedian
- $83K75th
- $91K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $77,330 | $6,444 | $37.18 |
| Median | $81,860 | $6,822 | $39.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $68,240 | $5,687 | $32.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,290 | $6,941 | $40.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Riggers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Riggers in Chicago earn 3% more than the Illinois average ($75,020) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($66,810). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $62,640.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $77,330 | $81,860 | $67,890 | $90,790 | 100 |
| Illinois | $75,020 | $81,860 | $60,910 | $85,910 | 120 |
| United States | $66,810 | $62,640 | $40,680 | $97,850 | 22,530 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Riggers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $77,330, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $59,545 a year, or $4,962 a month and $2,290 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% 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 | $60,942 | $5,078 |
| Working in IL | $59,545 | $4,962 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for riggers? 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 $77,330 buys what about $74,646 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Riggers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$68,270
- Grand Rapids, MI$56,410
- Indianapolis, IN$64,450
- Detroit, MI$53,940
- St. Louis, MO$68,750
- Cleveland, OH$61,940
Highest-paying cities for riggers
Fargo, ND pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,720).
- Fargo, ND$145,720
- New York, NY$101,710
- Seattle, WA$98,560
- Los Angeles, CA$94,170
- Salt Lake City, UT$89,980
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Riggers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do riggers make an hour in Chicago?
$37.18 an hour on average, and $39.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level riggers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $68,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the riggers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $59,545 a year ($4,962 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $77,330.
Do riggers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,810).
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 49-9096; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.15, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.15).
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