Buyer and Purchasing Agent Salary in Chicago, IL
Buyers and Purchasing Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $78,510 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,320 take-home, or $5,027 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median buyer and purchasing agent salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,442
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,868
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,138
- Illinois income tax$3,741
- Take-home pay$60,320
Marginal rate: 22% 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 →
Buyer and Purchasing Agent pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,940 | $24.49 | $40,734 | $3,394 |
| 25th percentile | $61,950 | $29.78 | $49,035 | $4,086 |
| Median (50th) | $78,510 | $37.75 | $60,320 | $5,027 |
| 75th percentile | $100,310 | $48.23 | $74,578 | $6,215 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $127,200 | $61.15 | $92,056 | $7,671 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,510 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 buyer and purchasing agent's $60,320 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,227 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Buyer and Purchasing Agent jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for buyers and purchasing agents, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #35 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dayton, OH | $94,520 | $73,508 | $79,302 |
| 2 | Huntsville, AL | $94,990 | $71,171 | $76,469 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $104,880 | $76,667 | $70,411 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $95,970 | $76,345 | $68,697 |
| 5 | San Antonio, TX | $79,550 | $64,793 | $68,408 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $101,500 | $73,706 | $66,749 |
| 7 | Cincinnati, OH | $77,070 | $61,712 | $64,708 |
| 8 | Columbus, OH | $77,150 | $61,766 | $64,697 |
| 35 | Chicago, IL | $78,510 | $60,320 | $58,227 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: buyers and purchasing agents
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a buyer and purchasing agent make in Chicago, IL?
The median buyer and purchasing agent salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,510 a year, or about $37.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,950 and $100,310.
What is a buyer and purchasing agent’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $78,510 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $60,320 a year ($5,027 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,741 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a buyer and purchasing agent?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $77,710. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,227 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #35 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a buyer and purchasing agent 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) — 31% of a median buyer and purchasing agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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