Editor Salary in Chicago, IL
Editors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $80,380 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,543 take-home, or $5,129 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median editor salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,854
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,984
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,166
- Illinois income tax$3,834
- Take-home pay$61,543
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.
Editor pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,980 | $20.66 | $34,732 | $2,894 |
| 25th percentile | $60,600 | $29.13 | $48,017 | $4,001 |
| Median (50th) | $80,380 | $38.64 | $61,543 | $5,129 |
| 75th percentile | $99,080 | $47.63 | $73,773 | $6,148 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $119,530 | $57.47 | $87,147 | $7,262 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $80,380 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 editor's $61,543 take-home pay has the buying power of $59,408 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Editor jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for editors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 25 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $117,580 | $83,314 | $75,450 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $102,120 | $75,687 | $67,239 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $102,940 | $74,566 | $64,496 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,050 | $72,839 | $64,138 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $77,730 | $60,920 | $62,580 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $86,410 | $65,519 | $60,517 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $77,680 | $60,069 | $60,034 |
| 8 | Tampa, FL | $73,330 | $60,418 | $59,885 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $80,380 | $61,543 | $59,408 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 25 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a editor make in Chicago, IL?
The median editor salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $80,380 a year, or about $38.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,600 and $99,080.
What is a editor’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $80,380 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $61,543 a year ($5,129 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,834 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a editor?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $77,920. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $59,408 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 25 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a editor 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) — 30% of a median editor’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Broadcast Technician — $96,060
- Technical Writer — $89,960
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,050
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Interior Designer — $76,570
- Writer and Author — $75,940
- Sound Engineering Technician — $73,140
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350