Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping Salary in Chicago, IL
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $49,590 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,716 take-home, or $3,310 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,771
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,075
- Medicare (1.45%)$719
- Illinois income tax$2,310
- Take-home pay$39,716
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 →
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,190 | $18.84 | $31,874 | $2,656 |
| 25th percentile | $45,920 | $22.08 | $36,948 | $3,079 |
| Median (50th) | $49,590 | $23.84 | $39,716 | $3,310 |
| 75th percentile | $59,050 | $28.39 | $46,848 | $3,904 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,130 | $32.75 | $53,532 | $4,461 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,590 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 human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping's $39,716 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,337 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,670 | $45,384 | $43,296 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $57,600 | $46,207 | $40,688 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $56,850 | $45,386 | $40,321 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $49,590 | $39,716 | $38,337 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
About the job: human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping
Compile and keep personnel records. Record data for each employee, such as address, weekly earnings, absences, amount of sales or production, supervisory reports, and date of and reason for termination. May prepare reports for employment records, file employment records, or search employee files and furnish information to authorized persons.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -6.2% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping make in Chicago, IL?
The median human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,590 a year, or about $23.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,920 and $59,050.
What is a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $49,590 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,716 a year ($3,310 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,310 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $50,610. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,337 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping 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) — 46% of a median human resources assistants, except payroll and timekeeping’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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