Survey Researchers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $135,730 or more. The middle half of survey researchers in Chicago earn between $54,080 and $104,430.
- $43K10th
- $54K25th
- $54KMedian
- $104K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,900 | $6,408 | $36.97 |
| Median | $54,080 | $4,507 | $26.00 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $54,080 | $4,507 | $26.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,430 | $8,702 | $50.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Survey Researchers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Survey researchers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($75,800) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($79,580). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $69,460.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $76,900 | $54,080 | $42,750 | $135,730 | 310 |
| Illinois | $75,800 | $54,080 | $42,750 | $135,730 | 320 |
| United States | $79,580 | $69,460 | $39,260 | $130,860 | 8,290 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Survey Researchers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $76,900, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $59,264 a year, or $4,939 a month and $2,279 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 | $60,652 | $5,054 |
| Working in IL | $59,264 | $4,939 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for survey researchers? 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 $76,900 buys what about $74,231 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 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.
Survey Researchers salary in nearby metro areas
- Ann Arbor, MI$101,790
- Detroit, MI$111,760
- St. Louis, MO$61,000
- Cincinnati, OH$67,260
- Minneapolis, MN$90,030
- Nashville, TN$72,720
Highest-paying cities for survey researchers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,860).
- San Francisco, CA$142,860
- San Jose, CA$127,690
- Detroit, MI$111,760
- Ann Arbor, MI$101,790
- Washington, DC$101,780
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Survey Researchers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do survey researchers make an hour in Chicago?
$36.97 an hour on average, and $26.00 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level survey researchers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $54,080, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the survey researchers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $59,264 a year ($4,939 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,900.
Do survey researchers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($79,580).
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 19-3022; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 15.8%.
- 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 1.28, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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