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

Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk Salary in Chicago, IL

Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $51,280 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,990 take-home, or $3,416 a month.

Median salary
$51,280
$24.65 per hour
Typical range
$39,810 – $71,260
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Chicago, IL
5,460
0.88× national concentration
▲5.4%
Pay trend: The median for insurance claims and policy processing clerks in Chicago, IL rose from $48,650 (May 2024) to $51,280 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 3.0%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median insurance claim and policy processing clerk salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk in Chicago, IL
Deductions, kids & local tax

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

Your take-home pay
$40,990
per year · effective tax rate 20.1%
$3,416Monthly
$1,708Twice a month
$1,577Every 2 weeks
$19.71Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,974
  • Social Security (6.2%)$3,179
  • Medicare (1.45%)$744
  • Illinois income tax$2,394
  • Take-home pay$40,990

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 →

Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk pay by experience in Chicago, IL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$39,810$19.14$32,342$2,695
25th percentile$46,330$22.27$37,258$3,105
Median (50th)$51,280$24.65$40,990$3,416
75th percentile$62,220$29.91$49,239$4,103
90th percentile (top earners)$71,260$34.26$55,579$4,632

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

What $51,280 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 insurance claim and policy processing clerk's $40,990 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,567 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,534
45% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,743
51% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,882
per month for everything else

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

Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).

Best-paying cities for insurance claims and policy processing clerks, adjusted for cost of living

Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 20 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1San Antonio, TX $55,910$47,104$49,731
2Dallas, TX $57,340$48,253$46,806
3Philadelphia, PA $57,150$46,346$45,191
4Indianapolis, IN $52,070$42,512$44,424
5Minneapolis, MN $58,260$46,554$44,412
6San Francisco, CA $64,260$51,049$44,155
7Cleveland, OH $47,800$40,055$42,647
8New York, NY $60,070$47,799$42,465
15Chicago, IL$51,280$40,990$39,567

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 20 metros →

About the job: insurance claims and policy processing clerks

Process new insurance policies, modifications to existing policies, and claims forms. Obtain information from policyholders to verify the accuracy and completeness of information on claims forms, applications and related documents, and company records. Update existing policies and company records to reflect changes requested by policyholders and insurance company representatives.

Typical education
High school diploma or equivalent
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-1.9% (declining)

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does a insurance claim and policy processing clerk make in Chicago, IL?

The median insurance claim and policy processing clerk salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $51,280 a year, or about $24.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,330 and $62,220.

What is a insurance claim and policy processing clerk’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?

On the median $51,280 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $40,990 a year ($3,416 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,394 in Illinois taxes in 2026.

Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a insurance claim and policy processing clerk?

Pay here is 4% above the national median of $49,230. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,567 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 20 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a insurance claim and policy processing clerk 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) — 45% of a median insurance claim and policy processing clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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