Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $45,280 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,466 take-home, or $3,039 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,254
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,807
- Medicare (1.45%)$657
- Illinois income tax$2,097
- Take-home pay$36,466
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 →
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,200 | $16.44 | $28,112 | $2,343 |
| 25th percentile | $38,160 | $18.35 | $31,097 | $2,591 |
| Median (50th) | $45,280 | $21.77 | $36,466 | $3,039 |
| 75th percentile | $47,700 | $22.93 | $38,291 | $3,191 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,250 | $29.45 | $48,507 | $4,042 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,280 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 landscaping and groundskeeping worker's $36,466 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,200 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.91).
Best-paying cities for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 73 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $45,970 | $37,905 | $41,241 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,440 | $36,713 | $37,873 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,450 | $34,474 | $37,252 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $46,670 | $37,711 | $37,023 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,480 | $41,134 | $37,013 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $45,250 | $37,458 | $36,806 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,160 | $38,369 | $36,604 |
| 8 | Boise City, ID | $43,540 | $35,965 | $36,553 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $45,280 | $36,466 | $35,200 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 73 metros →
About the job: landscaping and groundskeeping workers
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscaping and groundskeeping worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $45,280 a year, or about $21.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,160 and $47,700.
What is a landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $45,280 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $36,466 a year ($3,039 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,097 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a landscaping and groundskeeping worker?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $39,150. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,200 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 73 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping 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) — 50% of a median landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.