Athletic Trainer Salary in Chicago, IL
Athletic Trainers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $65,780 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,923 take-home, or $4,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median athletic trainer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,714
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,078
- Medicare (1.45%)$954
- Illinois income tax$3,111
- Take-home pay$51,923
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.
Athletic Trainer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,280 | $24.17 | $40,236 | $3,353 |
| 25th percentile | $55,750 | $26.80 | $44,360 | $3,697 |
| Median (50th) | $65,780 | $31.63 | $51,923 | $4,327 |
| 75th percentile | $77,820 | $37.41 | $59,869 | $4,989 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $89,800 | $43.17 | $67,704 | $5,642 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $65,780 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 athletic trainer's $51,923 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,121 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Athletic Trainer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.73), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for athletic trainers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 11 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $72,150 | $59,588 | $60,416 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $64,150 | $53,725 | $54,784 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $76,500 | $59,114 | $52,516 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $76,890 | $58,983 | $51,938 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $71,880 | $56,024 | $51,746 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $62,520 | $52,415 | $50,844 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $63,840 | $51,516 | $50,233 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $65,780 | $51,923 | $50,121 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 11 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a athletic trainer make in Chicago, IL?
The median athletic trainer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $65,780 a year, or about $31.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $55,750 and $77,820.
What is a athletic trainer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $65,780 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $51,923 a year ($4,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,111 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a athletic trainer?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $62,520. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 11 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a athletic trainer 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) — 35% of a median athletic trainer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
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- Pharmacist — $140,880