Driver/Sales Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Driver/Sales Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $40,490 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,854 take-home, or $2,738 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median driver/sales worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,679
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,510
- Medicare (1.45%)$587
- Illinois income tax$1,859
- Take-home pay$32,854
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 →
Driver/Sales Worker 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 | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $40,490 | $19.47 | $32,854 | $2,738 |
| 75th percentile | $50,110 | $24.09 | $40,108 | $3,342 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,640 | $33.48 | $54,519 | $4,543 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,490 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 driver/sales worker's $32,854 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,714 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Driver/Sales Worker jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for driver/sales workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $43,190 | $36,883 | $38,285 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $44,440 | $37,888 | $36,752 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $46,600 | $38,281 | $36,189 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $40,240 | $33,559 | $35,292 |
| 5 | Riverside, CA | $45,760 | $37,534 | $35,262 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $47,340 | $38,071 | $35,164 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $40,590 | $33,626 | $35,139 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $38,520 | $32,854 | $34,980 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $40,490 | $32,854 | $31,714 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
About the job: driver/sales workers
Drive truck or other vehicle over established routes or within an established territory and sell or deliver goods, such as food products, including restaurant take-out items, or pick up or deliver items such as commercial laundry. May also take orders, collect payment, or stock merchandise at point of delivery.
- 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
- +7.9% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a driver/sales worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median driver/sales worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $40,490 a year, or about $19.47 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $50,110.
What is a driver/sales worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $40,490 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $32,854 a year ($2,738 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,859 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a driver/sales worker?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $38,770. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,714 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a driver/sales worker 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) — 56% of a median driver/sales worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $77,470
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $68,330
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,200
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,300
- Flight Attendant — $62,120
- Bus Drivers, School — $49,180
- Light Truck Driver — $47,950
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $47,950
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $40,550
- Stocker and Order Filler — $38,450
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $38,290