Database Administrator Salary in Chicago, IL
Database Administrators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $109,680 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,706 take-home, or $6,725 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median database administrator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,300
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,800
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,590
- Illinois income tax$5,284
- Take-home pay$80,706
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.
Database Administrator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,150 | $28.92 | $47,678 | $3,973 |
| 25th percentile | $77,410 | $37.22 | $59,601 | $4,967 |
| Median (50th) | $109,680 | $52.73 | $80,706 | $6,725 |
| 75th percentile | $135,990 | $65.38 | $97,628 | $8,136 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $164,050 | $78.87 | $115,418 | $9,618 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $109,680 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 database administrator's $80,706 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,905 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Database Administrator jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.92).
Best-paying cities for database administrators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 34 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville, TN | $123,920 | $95,965 | $99,613 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $123,830 | $95,904 | $97,795 |
| 3 | Tampa, FL | $124,560 | $96,403 | $95,552 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $122,950 | $90,905 | $92,612 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $122,390 | $94,920 | $92,074 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $133,180 | $102,295 | $92,047 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $116,030 | $90,457 | $91,715 |
| 8 | Orlando, FL | $115,100 | $89,803 | $88,547 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $109,680 | $80,706 | $77,905 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 34 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a database administrator make in Chicago, IL?
The median database administrator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $109,680 a year, or about $52.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,410 and $135,990.
What is a database administrator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $109,680 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $80,706 a year ($6,725 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,284 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a database administrator?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $104,620. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,905 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 34 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a database administrator 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) — 23% of a median database administrator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Database Architect — $147,490
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $135,630
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- Actuary — $113,730
- Data Scientist — $107,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660
- Computer Programmer — $99,750