Chief Executive Salary in Chicago, IL
Chief Executives in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $239,200+ a year — 61% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $226,413 take-home, or $18,868 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chief executive salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$83,870
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$6,307
- Illinois income tax$16,931
- Take-home pay$226,413
Marginal rate: 35% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Chief Executive pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $142,940 | $68.72 | $102,035 | $8,503 |
| 25th percentile | $197,530 | $94.97 | $137,453 | $11,454 |
| Median (50th) | $344,960+ | $165.85 | $226,413 | $18,868 |
| 75th percentile | $428,710+ | $206.11 | $274,737 | $22,895 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $599,520+ | $288.23 | $373,295 | $31,108 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $239,200+ buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median chief executive's $226,413 take-home pay has the buying power of $218,556 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chief Executive jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chief executives, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $239,200+ | $227,744 | $220,918 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $226,413 | $218,556 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $239,200+ | $201,659 | $196,637 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $186,336 | $186,228 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $198,593 | $176,428 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $181,719 | $157,179 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $238,440 | $154,548 | $138,128 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $209,980 | $142,627 | $136,066 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
About the job: chief executives
Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.2% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chief executive make in Chicago, IL?
The median chief executive salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $239,200+ a year, or about $165.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $197,530 and $239,200+.
What is a chief executive’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $239,200+ salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $226,413 a year ($18,868 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $16,931 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a chief executive?
Pay here is 61% above the national median of $213,990. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $218,556 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chief executive afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 8% of a median chief executive’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $173,760
- Financial Manager — $168,810
- Marketing Manager — $165,340
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $163,430
- Sales Manager — $158,690
- Human Resources Manager — $156,770
- Purchasing Manager — $155,080
- Managers, All Other — $145,370
- Industrial Production Manager — $129,840
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $128,780
- Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers — $124,120
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $123,090