Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment Salary in Chicago, IL
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $36,580 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,906 take-home, or $2,492 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,210
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,268
- Medicare (1.45%)$530
- Illinois income tax$1,666
- Take-home pay$29,906
Marginal rate: 12% 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 →
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $34,330 | $16.50 | $28,210 | $2,351 |
| Median (50th) | $36,580 | $17.59 | $29,906 | $2,492 |
| 75th percentile | $46,570 | $22.39 | $37,439 | $3,120 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $55,990 | $26.92 | $44,541 | $3,712 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,580 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 cleaner of vehicles and equipment's $29,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,868 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for cleaners of vehicles and equipment, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,680 | $31,426 | $32,952 |
| 2 | Nashville, TN | $36,760 | $31,717 | $32,922 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $41,600 | $34,484 | $32,599 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $35,500 | $30,510 | $32,484 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $35,480 | $29,958 | $32,372 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | $44,350 | $36,475 | $31,550 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $35,220 | $29,761 | $31,299 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $36,580 | $29,906 | $28,868 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
About the job: cleaners of vehicles and equipment
Wash or otherwise clean vehicles, machinery, and other equipment. Use such materials as water, cleaning agents, brushes, cloths, and hoses.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cleaner of vehicles and equipment make in Chicago, IL?
The median cleaner of vehicles and equipment salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,580 a year, or about $17.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,330 and $46,570.
What is a cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $36,580 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,906 a year ($2,492 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,666 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cleaner of vehicles and equipment?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $35,830. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,868 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cleaner of vehicles and equipment 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) — 62% of a median cleaner of vehicles and equipment’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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