Community Health Worker Salary in Chicago, IL
Community Health Workers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $49,750 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,836 take-home, or $3,320 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median community health worker salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,790
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,085
- Medicare (1.45%)$721
- Illinois income tax$2,318
- Take-home pay$39,836
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.
Community Health Worker pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,220 | $20.30 | $34,159 | $2,847 |
| 25th percentile | $46,000 | $22.12 | $37,009 | $3,084 |
| Median (50th) | $49,750 | $23.92 | $39,836 | $3,320 |
| 75th percentile | $59,930 | $28.81 | $47,512 | $3,959 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,310 | $33.32 | $54,304 | $4,525 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,750 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 community health worker's $39,836 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,454 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Community Health Worker jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.80), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for community health workers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 27 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus, OH | $64,810 | $53,255 | $55,782 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $72,710 | $56,432 | $48,811 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $62,400 | $50,281 | $47,533 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $51,470 | $43,536 | $45,965 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $51,010 | $43,167 | $44,018 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $49,650 | $40,678 | $43,955 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $57,980 | $48,767 | $43,882 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $50,330 | $42,620 | $43,213 |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $49,750 | $39,836 | $38,454 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 27 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a community health worker make in Chicago, IL?
The median community health worker salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,750 a year, or about $23.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,000 and $59,930.
What is a community health worker’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $49,750 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,836 a year ($3,320 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,318 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a community health worker?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $51,850. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,454 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #23 of 27 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a community health worker 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) — 46% of a median community health worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Social Workers, All Other — $71,740
- Healthcare Social Worker — $71,430
- Probation Officer and Correctional Treatment Specialist — $67,610
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers — $64,790
- Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors — $64,730
- Clergy — $61,820
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors — $61,600
- Marriage and Family Therapist — $61,360
- Health Education Specialist — $60,120
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker — $57,720
- Religious Workers, All Other — $50,210
- Rehabilitation Counselor — $49,350