Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators Salary in Chicago, IL
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $78,640 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,405 take-home, or $5,034 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,471
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,876
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,140
- Illinois income tax$3,748
- Take-home pay$60,405
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 →
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,590 | $23.84 | $39,716 | $3,310 |
| 25th percentile | $61,790 | $29.71 | $48,914 | $4,076 |
| Median (50th) | $78,640 | $37.81 | $60,405 | $5,034 |
| 75th percentile | $99,310 | $47.75 | $73,924 | $6,160 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,460 | $59.36 | $89,684 | $7,474 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,640 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 claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators's $60,405 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,309 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 30 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $98,700 | $73,941 | $70,766 |
| 2 | San Antonio, TX | $81,830 | $66,397 | $70,102 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $78,030 | $63,724 | $66,146 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $78,090 | $61,033 | $65,951 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $105,340 | $76,000 | $65,737 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $78,820 | $64,280 | $65,173 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $82,890 | $67,143 | $65,131 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $79,770 | $62,101 | $64,063 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $78,640 | $60,405 | $58,309 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 30 metros →
About the job: claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Review settled claims to determine that payments and settlements are made in accordance with company practices and procedures. Confer with legal counsel on claims requiring litigation. May also settle insurance claims.
- 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
- -5.5% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators make in Chicago, IL?
The median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,640 a year, or about $37.81 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,790 and $99,310.
What is a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $78,640 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $60,405 a year ($5,034 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,748 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $78,000. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,309 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 30 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators 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) — 30% of a median claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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