Taxi Drivers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $44,420 or more. The middle half of taxi drivers in Chicago earn between $36,150 and $43,460.
- $31K10th
- $36K25th
- $37KMedian
- $43K75th
- $44K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,160 | $3,180 | $18.35 |
| Median | $36,770 | $3,064 | $17.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,150 | $3,012 | $17.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $43,460 | $3,622 | $20.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Taxi Drivers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Taxi drivers in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($37,880) and 24% less than the U.S. average ($49,930). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $42,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $38,160 | $36,770 | $31,200 | $44,420 | 150 |
| Illinois | $37,880 | $36,770 | $31,200 | $44,390 | 190 |
| United States | $49,930 | $42,100 | $34,650 | $75,800 | 41,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Taxi Drivers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $38,160, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $31,094 a year, or $2,591 a month and $1,196 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $31,727 | $2,644 |
| Working in IL | $31,094 | $2,591 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for taxi drivers? 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 $38,160 buys what about $36,836 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 9.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Taxi Drivers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$29,280
- La Crosse, WI$28,960
- Eau Claire, WI$27,460
- Minneapolis, MN$34,500
- Kansas City, MO$36,780
- Philadelphia, PA$38,220
Highest-paying cities for taxi drivers
Las Vegas, NV pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,410).
- Las Vegas, NV$52,410
- Philadelphia, PA$38,220
- Chicago, IL$38,160
- Kansas City, MO$36,780
- Boston, MA$35,560
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Taxi Drivers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do taxi drivers make an hour in Chicago?
$18.35 an hour on average, and $17.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level taxi drivers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,150, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the taxi drivers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $31,094 a year ($2,591 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,160.
Do taxi drivers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 24% less than the U.S. average for this job ($49,930).
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 53-3054; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.0%.
- 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 0.13, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.13).
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