Travel Agents pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,300 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,500 or more. The middle half of travel agents in Chicago earn between $45,340 and $61,070.
- $38K10th
- $45K25th
- $49KMedian
- $61K75th
- $80K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $55,760 | $4,647 | $26.81 |
| Median | $49,160 | $4,097 | $23.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,340 | $3,778 | $21.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $61,070 | $5,089 | $29.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Travel Agents pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Travel agents in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($53,680) and about the same as the U.S. average ($54,660). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $50,160.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $55,760 | $49,160 | $38,300 | $79,500 | 1,740 |
| Illinois | $53,680 | $49,090 | $37,200 | $77,630 | 2,120 |
| United States | $54,660 | $50,160 | $34,610 | $76,660 | 55,110 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Travel Agents salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $55,760, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $44,364 a year, or $3,697 a month and $1,706 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 | $45,340 | $3,778 |
| Working in IL | $44,364 | $3,697 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for travel agents? 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 $55,760 buys what about $53,825 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 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Travel Agents salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$47,860
- Madison, WI$50,890
- Grand Rapids, MI$47,280
- Davenport, IA$45,810
- Fort Wayne, IN$50,730
- Indianapolis, IN$53,190
Highest-paying cities for travel agents
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($66,650).
- Bridgeport, CT$66,650
- Bozeman, MT$66,150
- Las Vegas, NV$64,900
- New Haven, CT$64,290
- Kiryas Joel, NY$63,600
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Travel Agents salary in Chicago: questions
How much do travel agents make an hour in Chicago?
$26.81 an hour on average, and $23.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level travel agents salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $38,300 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,340, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the travel agents take-home pay in Chicago?
About $44,364 a year ($3,697 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $55,760.
Do travel agents earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($54,660).
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 41-3041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.0%.
- 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 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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