Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Data Entry Keyer Salary in Chicago, IL

Data Entry Keyers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $44,650 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,991 take-home, or $2,999 a month.

Median salary
$44,650
$21.47 per hour
Typical range
$31,200 – $61,660
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Chicago, IL
4,270
1.16× national concentration
▲8.9%
Pay trend: The median for data entry keyers in Chicago, IL rose from $40,990 (May 2024) to $44,650 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 6.5%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median data entry keyer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Data Entry Keyer in Chicago, IL
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$35,991
per year · effective tax rate 19.4%
$2,999Monthly
$1,500Twice a month
$1,384Every 2 weeks
$17.30Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,178
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,768
  • Medicare (1.45%)$647
  • Illinois income tax$2,065
  • Take-home pay$35,991

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 →

Data Entry Keyer pay by experience in Chicago, IL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$31,200$15.00$25,850$2,154
25th percentile$38,000$18.27$30,977$2,581
Median (50th)$44,650$21.47$35,991$2,999
75th percentile$48,880$23.50$39,180$3,265
90th percentile (top earners)$61,660$29.64$48,816$4,068

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $44,650 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 data entry keyer's $35,991 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,742 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,534
51% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,743
58% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,465
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Data Entry Keyer jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).

Best-paying cities for data entry keyers, adjusted for cost of living

Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Dallas, TX $43,110$36,819$35,715
2Phoenix, AZ $44,160$36,767$35,587
3Chicago, IL $44,650$35,991$34,742
4Houston, TX $39,520$33,934$34,406
5Los Angeles, CA $47,040$38,493$33,895
6New York, NY $45,350$36,767$32,663

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →

About the job: data entry keyers

Operate data entry device, such as keyboard or photo composing perforator. Duties may include verifying data and preparing materials for printing.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-25.5% (declining)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a data entry keyer make in Chicago, IL?

The median data entry keyer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $44,650 a year, or about $21.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,000 and $48,880.

What is a data entry keyer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?

On the median $44,650 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $35,991 a year ($2,999 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,065 in Illinois taxes in 2026.

Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a data entry keyer?

Pay here is 8% above the national median of $41,340. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,742 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a data entry keyer 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) — 51% of a median data entry keyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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