Cost Estimator Salary in Chicago, IL
Cost Estimators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $83,640 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,675 take-home, or $5,306 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median cost estimator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,571
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,186
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,213
- Illinois income tax$3,995
- Take-home pay$63,675
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.
Cost Estimator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,720 | $24.38 | $40,568 | $3,381 |
| 25th percentile | $64,320 | $30.92 | $50,822 | $4,235 |
| Median (50th) | $83,640 | $40.21 | $63,675 | $5,306 |
| 75th percentile | $109,990 | $52.88 | $80,908 | $6,742 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,460 | $67.05 | $99,828 | $8,319 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,640 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 cost estimator's $63,675 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,466 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Cost Estimator jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.71), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for cost estimators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #61 of 90 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $84,710 | $66,268 | $72,999 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $102,640 | $76,125 | $70,313 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $81,170 | $63,884 | $68,992 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls, SD | $76,130 | $62,387 | $68,837 |
| 5 | Nashville, TN | $81,300 | $66,025 | $68,534 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $76,660 | $62,760 | $68,085 |
| 7 | Dayton, OH | $79,020 | $63,030 | $67,998 |
| 8 | Worcester, MA | $92,570 | $69,544 | $67,833 |
| 61 | Chicago, IL | $83,640 | $63,675 | $61,466 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 90 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a cost estimator make in Chicago, IL?
The median cost estimator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,640 a year, or about $40.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,320 and $109,990.
What is a cost estimator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $83,640 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $63,675 a year ($5,306 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,995 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a cost estimator?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $78,740. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,466 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #61 of 90 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a cost estimator 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) — 29% of a median cost estimator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Personal Financial Advisor — $113,210
- Financial Risk Specialist — $105,370
- Project Management Specialist — $105,320
- Management Analyst — $105,090
- Labor Relations Specialist — $103,570
- Financial and Investment Analyst — $101,750
- Insurance Underwriter — $99,840
- Financial Examiner — $98,470
- Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents — $93,590
- Credit Analyst — $92,900
- Accountant and Auditor — $82,360
- Compliance Officer — $82,020