Medical Assistant Salary in Chicago, IL
Medical Assistants in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $47,270 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,966 take-home, or $3,164 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical assistant salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,492
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,931
- Medicare (1.45%)$685
- Illinois income tax$2,195
- Take-home pay$37,966
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 →
Medical Assistant pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.60 | $29,921 | $2,493 |
| 25th percentile | $40,690 | $19.56 | $33,005 | $2,750 |
| Median (50th) | $47,270 | $22.73 | $37,966 | $3,164 |
| 75th percentile | $50,260 | $24.16 | $40,221 | $3,352 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $57,360 | $27.58 | $45,574 | $3,798 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,270 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 medical assistant's $37,966 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,649 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Assistant jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.66), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for medical assistants, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #39 of 63 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,500 | $51,595 | $46,427 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,970 | $49,400 | $46,311 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $61,940 | $49,378 | $44,717 |
| 4 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,590 | $40,625 | $41,908 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $59,790 | $47,807 | $41,351 |
| 6 | Portland, OR | $56,240 | $43,277 | $41,052 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $52,570 | $42,369 | $40,420 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,300 | $37,387 | $40,399 |
| 39 | Chicago, IL | $47,270 | $37,966 | $36,649 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 63 metros →
About the job: medical assistants
Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical assistant make in Chicago, IL?
The median medical assistant salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,270 a year, or about $22.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $40,690 and $50,260.
What is a medical assistant’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $47,270 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,966 a year ($3,164 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,195 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a medical assistant?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $45,690. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,649 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #39 of 63 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical 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) — 48% of a median medical assistant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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