Construction Manager Salary in Chicago, IL
Construction Managers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $117,280 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,676 take-home, or $7,140 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$16,972
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,271
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,701
- Illinois income tax$5,661
- Take-home pay$85,676
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.
Construction Manager pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,500 | $26.68 | $44,172 | $3,681 |
| 25th percentile | $82,330 | $39.58 | $62,819 | $5,235 |
| Median (50th) | $117,280 | $56.38 | $85,676 | $7,140 |
| 75th percentile | $151,650 | $72.91 | $107,557 | $8,963 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $178,140 | $85.64 | $124,352 | $10,363 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $117,280 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 construction manager's $85,676 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,703 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.3× the national concentration of construction manager jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction managers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #81 of 126 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $159,430 | $120,236 | $108,191 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $156,470 | $110,610 | $102,165 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $137,980 | $105,575 | $100,147 |
| 4 | Rochester, NY | $134,940 | $96,576 | $99,527 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $163,040 | $109,651 | $99,301 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | $122,050 | $91,412 | $98,720 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $158,000 | $110,977 | $98,591 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $122,190 | $94,783 | $98,386 |
| 81 | Chicago, IL | $117,280 | $85,676 | $82,703 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 126 metros →
Construction Manager salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $105,900
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction manager make in Chicago, IL?
The median construction manager salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $117,280 a year, or about $56.38 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,330 and $151,650.
What is a construction manager’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $117,280 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $85,676 a year ($7,140 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,661 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a construction manager?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $114,990. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,703 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #81 of 126 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction manager 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) — 21% of a median construction manager’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Chief Executive — $239,200+
- Computer and Information Systems Manager — $173,760
- Financial Manager — $168,810
- Natural Sciences Manager — $167,040
- Marketing Manager — $165,340
- Architectural and Engineering Manager — $163,430
- Sales Manager — $158,690
- Human Resources Manager — $156,770
- Compensation and Benefits Manager — $155,340
- Purchasing Manager — $155,080
- Managers, All Other — $145,370
- Training and Development Manager — $133,800