Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant Salary in Chicago, IL
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $59,490 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $47,180 take-home, or $3,932 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,959
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,688
- Medicare (1.45%)$863
- Illinois income tax$2,800
- Take-home pay$47,180
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 →
Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,120 | $22.65 | $37,853 | $3,154 |
| 25th percentile | $48,470 | $23.30 | $38,871 | $3,239 |
| Median (50th) | $59,490 | $28.60 | $47,180 | $3,932 |
| 75th percentile | $79,190 | $38.07 | $60,765 | $5,064 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,990 | $48.07 | $74,368 | $6,197 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,490 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 legal secretary and administrative assistant's $47,180 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,543 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.4× the national concentration of legal secretary and administrative assistant jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for legal secretaries and administrative assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #6 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $77,220 | $59,559 | $54,700 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $79,410 | $60,507 | $52,336 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $75,920 | $58,737 | $52,181 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $62,000 | $51,997 | $46,788 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $62,690 | $49,637 | $45,847 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $59,490 | $47,180 | $45,543 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,480 | $45,828 | $44,686 |
| 8 | San Diego, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $44,027 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: legal secretaries and administrative assistants
Perform secretarial duties using legal terminology, procedures, and documents. Prepare legal papers and correspondence, such as summonses, complaints, motions, and subpoenas. May also assist with legal research.
- 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
- -5.2% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a legal secretary and administrative assistant make in Chicago, IL?
The median legal secretary and administrative assistant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59,490 a year, or about $28.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,470 and $79,190.
What is a legal secretary and administrative assistant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $59,490 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $47,180 a year ($3,932 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,800 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a legal secretary and administrative assistant?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $55,570. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,543 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #6 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a legal secretary and administrative assistant 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) — 39% of a median legal secretary and administrative assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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