Cost of Living in Rockford, IL
Rockford, IL — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Price level
92.2
U.S. average = 100 · #239 of 387
Median wage
$47,120
all jobs · $3,154/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$895
HUD fair market rent
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Rockford, IL to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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Prices in Rockford, IL vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 92.2 | −7.8% |
| Housing | 70.1 | −29.9% |
| Goods | 93.6 | −6.4% |
| Utilities | 89.4 | −10.6% |
| Other services | 99.6 | −0.4% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Rockford, IL
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $810 | $32,400/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $895 | $35,800/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,175 | $47,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,555 | $62,200/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,594 | $63,760/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Take-home pay in Rockford, IL
Your take-home pay
$37,853
per year · effective tax rate 19.7%
$3,154Monthly
$1,577Twice a month
$1,456Every 2 weeks
$18.20Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,474
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,921
- Medicare (1.45%)$683
- Illinois income tax$2,188
- Take-home pay$37,853
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
Highest-paying jobs in Rockford, IL
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rockford, IL expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Rockford, IL metro area are 92.2% of the U.S. average, with housing at 70.1%. It is the #239 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Rockford, IL?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $55,292 in Rockford, IL (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $47,120.
How much is rent in Rockford, IL?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Rockford, IL are $810 for a studio, $895 for one bedroom, $1,175 for two bedrooms and $1,555 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
All salaries in Rockford, IL
Management Occupations
- Financial Manager — $135,650
- Sales Manager — $133,560
- Medical and Health Services Manager — $121,920
- Industrial Production Manager — $120,800
- Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary — $99,980
- General and Operations Manager — $98,390
Business and Financial Operations Occupations
- Accountant and Auditor — $75,260
- Human Resources Specialist — $65,490
- Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist — $61,810
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
- Mechanical Engineer — $99,150
- Industrial Engineer — $93,980
Community and Social Service Occupations
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $61,940
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $53,670
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $78,500
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $76,920
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $64,200
- Substitute Teachers, Short-Term — $37,000
- Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary — $32,020
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $80,930
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $70,090
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,170
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Dental Assistant — $45,970
- Medical Assistant — $44,390
- Nursing Assistant — $40,140
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $37,270
Protective Service Occupations
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $78,510
- Security Guard — $36,960
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $37,750
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,200
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $34,580
- Food Preparation Worker — $32,530
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $31,670
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $31,640
- Waiter and Waitress — $31,200
- Bartender — $31,200
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker — $37,770
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners — $35,970
- Maid and Housekeeping Cleaner — $34,230
Personal Care and Service Occupations
- Childcare Worker — $33,560
Sales and Related Occupations
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $68,970
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $59,720
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $45,790
- Retail Salesperson — $33,540
- Cashier — $31,680
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $65,740
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $46,790
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,130
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $46,010
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,530
- Office Clerks, General — $43,400
- Customer Service Representative — $43,260
- Receptionist and Information Clerk — $37,460
Construction and Extraction Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $102,140
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $94,230
- Carpenter — $72,770
- Construction Laborer — $58,390
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $83,480
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $53,610
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $48,110
Production Occupations
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $74,280
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $50,200
- Machinist — $49,700
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operator — $46,780
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,240
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,670
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $40,990
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $59,940
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,900
- Light Truck Driver — $48,240
- Bus Drivers, School — $45,560
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $45,290
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,200
- Stocker and Order Filler — $36,020
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $34,830