Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Chicago, IL
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $40,550 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,899 take-home, or $2,742 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,686
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,514
- Medicare (1.45%)$588
- Illinois income tax$1,862
- Take-home pay$32,899
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 →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,860 | $15.32 | $26,347 | $2,196 |
| 25th percentile | $35,920 | $17.27 | $29,408 | $2,451 |
| Median (50th) | $40,550 | $19.50 | $32,899 | $2,742 |
| 75th percentile | $47,640 | $22.90 | $38,245 | $3,187 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,440 | $27.13 | $44,881 | $3,740 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,550 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 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $32,899 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,758 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.8× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #155 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 155 | Chicago, IL | $40,550 | $32,899 | $31,758 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Rockford, IL — $44,200
- Peoria, IL — $37,420
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Chicago, IL?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $40,550 a year, or about $19.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,920 and $47,640.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $40,550 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $32,899 a year ($2,742 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,862 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,758 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #155 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 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) — 56% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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