Automotive Body and Related Repairer Salary in Chicago, IL
Automotive Body and Related Repairers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $52,040 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,563 take-home, or $3,464 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median automotive body and related repairer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,065
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,226
- Medicare (1.45%)$755
- Illinois income tax$2,431
- Take-home pay$41,563
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 →
Automotive Body and Related Repairer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,960 | $16.81 | $28,685 | $2,390 |
| 25th percentile | $49,640 | $23.87 | $39,753 | $3,313 |
| Median (50th) | $52,040 | $25.02 | $41,563 | $3,464 |
| 75th percentile | $60,860 | $29.26 | $48,213 | $4,018 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,440 | $38.19 | $60,929 | $5,077 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $52,040 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 automotive body and related repairer's $41,563 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,121 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Automotive Body and Related Repairer jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for automotive body and related repairers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $76,740 | $58,892 | $50,939 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $56,060 | $47,224 | $47,881 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $57,280 | $48,204 | $46,760 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,090 | $53,001 | $46,669 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $59,000 | $47,775 | $46,585 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $55,690 | $44,659 | $44,634 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $57,920 | $46,188 | $41,033 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $52,040 | $41,563 | $40,121 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: automotive body and related repairers
Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Long-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a automotive body and related repairer make in Chicago, IL?
The median automotive body and related repairer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $52,040 a year, or about $25.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $49,640 and $60,860.
What is a automotive body and related repairer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $52,040 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $41,563 a year ($3,464 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,431 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a automotive body and related repairer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $54,890. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,121 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a automotive body and related repairer 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) — 44% of a median automotive body and related repairer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers — $85,420
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — $77,960
- Industrial Machinery Mechanic — $75,800
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines — $74,090
- Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers — $69,820
- Bus and Truck Mechanic and Diesel Engine Specialist — $65,680
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General — $58,020
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other — $56,900
- Automotive Service Technician and Mechanic — $55,320
- Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers — $45,710
- Tire Repairer and Changer — $38,720