Counter and Rental Clerk Salary in Chicago, IL
Counter and Rental Clerks in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,180 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,113 take-home, or $2,593 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median counter and rental clerk salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,402
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,367
- Medicare (1.45%)$554
- Illinois income tax$1,745
- Take-home pay$31,113
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Counter and Rental Clerk pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,170 | $15.47 | $26,581 | $2,215 |
| 25th percentile | $35,890 | $17.25 | $29,386 | $2,449 |
| Median (50th) | $38,180 | $18.36 | $31,113 | $2,593 |
| 75th percentile | $48,880 | $23.50 | $39,180 | $3,265 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,330 | $31.41 | $51,584 | $4,299 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,180 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 counter and rental clerk's $31,113 take-home pay has the buying power of $30,033 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Counter and Rental Clerk jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for counter and rental clerks, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #31 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond, VA | $46,520 | $37,698 | $38,523 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $49,350 | $41,833 | $37,642 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $46,900 | $38,509 | $36,404 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $45,310 | $37,196 | $36,269 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $44,760 | $37,234 | $36,039 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $48,570 | $39,611 | $35,872 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $48,010 | $39,041 | $35,856 |
| 8 | Nashville, TN | $39,890 | $34,232 | $35,533 |
| 31 | Chicago, IL | $38,180 | $31,113 | $30,033 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: counter and rental clerks
Receive orders, generally in person, for repairs, rentals, and services. May describe available options, compute cost, and accept payment.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.0% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a counter and rental clerk make in Chicago, IL?
The median counter and rental clerk salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,180 a year, or about $18.36 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,890 and $48,880.
What is a counter and rental clerk’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,180 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,113 a year ($2,593 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,745 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a counter and rental clerk?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $41,300. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $30,033 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #31 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a counter and rental clerk 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) — 59% of a median counter and rental clerk’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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