Bailiff Salary in Chicago, IL
Bailiffs in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $50,660 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,522 take-home, or $3,377 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bailiff salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,899
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,141
- Medicare (1.45%)$735
- Illinois income tax$2,363
- Take-home pay$40,522
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.
Bailiff pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $36,390 | $17.50 | $29,763 | $2,480 |
| Median (50th) | $50,660 | $24.36 | $40,522 | $3,377 |
| 75th percentile | $60,150 | $28.92 | $47,678 | $3,973 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,660 | $47.91 | $74,152 | $6,179 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,660 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 bailiff's $40,522 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,116 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bailiff jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for bailiffs, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $83,360 | $63,569 | $56,474 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $79,570 | $61,049 | $56,388 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $50,660 | $40,522 | $39,116 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $47,600 | $38,965 | $37,995 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bailiff make in Chicago, IL?
The median bailiff salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $50,660 a year, or about $24.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,390 and $60,150.
What is a bailiff’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $50,660 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $40,522 a year ($3,377 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,363 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a bailiff?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $56,600. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,116 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bailiff 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) — 45% of a median bailiff’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $135,080
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $126,200
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $107,810
- First-Line Supervisor of Correctional Officers — $105,450
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $102,260
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $84,550
- Firefighter — $82,820
- Transportation Security Screener — $70,570
- Private Detective and Investigator — $68,310
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $58,990
- Security Guard — $39,990
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $38,990