Computer Network Support Specialist Salary in Chicago, IL
Computer Network Support Specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $73,340 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,939 take-home, or $4,745 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer network support specialist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,305
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,547
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,063
- Illinois income tax$3,486
- Take-home pay$56,939
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Computer Network Support Specialist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,670 | $23.88 | $39,776 | $3,315 |
| 25th percentile | $60,880 | $29.27 | $48,228 | $4,019 |
| Median (50th) | $73,340 | $35.26 | $56,939 | $4,745 |
| 75th percentile | $88,550 | $42.57 | $66,886 | $5,574 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,880 | $52.83 | $80,836 | $6,736 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,340 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 computer network support specialist's $56,939 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,963 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Computer Network Support Specialist jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for computer network support specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $102,980 | $76,749 | $73,453 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $101,600 | $73,766 | $63,804 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $92,400 | $68,948 | $63,322 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $81,720 | $62,702 | $62,665 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $82,750 | $64,112 | $60,608 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $75,930 | $62,247 | $60,381 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $86,930 | $65,888 | $58,534 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $73,340 | $56,939 | $54,963 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: computer network support specialists
Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer network support specialist make in Chicago, IL?
The median computer network support specialist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $73,340 a year, or about $35.26 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,880 and $88,550.
What is a computer network support specialist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $73,340 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $56,939 a year ($4,745 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,486 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a computer network support specialist?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $76,220. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,963 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer network support specialist 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) — 32% of a median computer network support specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- Data Scientist — $107,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660
- Web Developer — $96,870
- Operations Research Analyst — $86,500
- Computer User Support Specialist — $60,730