Transportation Inspectors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $137,050 or more. The middle half of transportation inspectors in Chicago earn between $39,920 and $105,660.
- $36K10th
- $40K25th
- $55KMedian
- $106K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $73,830 | $6,152 | $35.50 |
| Median | $55,070 | $4,589 | $26.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,920 | $3,327 | $19.19 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,660 | $8,805 | $50.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Transportation Inspectors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Transportation inspectors in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($69,780) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($88,540). At the median the gap is -40% against the U.S. median of $92,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $73,830 | $55,070 | $36,500 | $137,050 | 570 |
| Illinois | $69,780 | $47,990 | $36,500 | $129,600 | 1,130 |
| United States | $88,540 | $92,100 | $40,330 | $138,670 | 24,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Transportation Inspectors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $73,830, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $57,256 a year, or $4,771 a month and $2,202 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 | $58,584 | $4,882 |
| Working in IL | $57,256 | $4,771 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for transportation inspectors? 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 $73,830 buys what about $71,268 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 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Transportation Inspectors salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($79,530).
- Springfield$79,530
- Chicago$73,830
Highest-paying cities for transportation inspectors
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($128,300).
- Anchorage, AK$128,300
- Minneapolis, MN$127,870
- Seattle, WA$122,750
- Oklahoma City, OK$122,140
- Orlando, FL$118,170
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Transportation Inspectors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do transportation inspectors make an hour in Chicago?
$35.50 an hour on average, and $26.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level transportation inspectors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the transportation inspectors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $57,256 a year ($4,771 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $73,830.
Do transportation inspectors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($88,540).
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 53-6051; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.1%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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