Network and Computer Systems Administrator Salary in Chicago, IL
Network and Computer Systems Administrators in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $103,170 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,448 take-home, or $6,371 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median network and computer systems administrator salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,867
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,397
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,496
- Illinois income tax$4,962
- Take-home pay$76,448
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.
Network and Computer Systems Administrator pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,990 | $33.17 | $54,094 | $4,508 |
| 25th percentile | $82,750 | $39.78 | $63,093 | $5,258 |
| Median (50th) | $103,170 | $49.60 | $76,448 | $6,371 |
| 75th percentile | $130,120 | $62.56 | $93,907 | $7,826 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,290 | $78.02 | $114,303 | $9,525 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,170 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 network and computer systems administrator's $76,448 take-home pay has the buying power of $73,795 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Network and Computer Systems Administrator jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for network and computer systems administrators, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #56 of 101 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, IL | $110,600 | $81,307 | $87,667 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $122,950 | $89,785 | $85,929 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $105,750 | $81,099 | $84,948 |
| 4 | Olympia, WA | $112,530 | $87,995 | $84,880 |
| 5 | Durham, NC | $110,640 | $82,759 | $84,819 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $104,520 | $82,360 | $83,984 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $133,360 | $92,511 | $83,779 |
| 8 | Baton Rouge, LA | $97,770 | $75,064 | $82,688 |
| 56 | Chicago, IL | $103,170 | $76,448 | $73,795 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 101 metros →
Network and Computer Systems Administrator salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Springfield, IL — $110,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a network and computer systems administrator make in Chicago, IL?
The median network and computer systems administrator salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $103,170 a year, or about $49.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,750 and $130,120.
What is a network and computer systems administrator’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $103,170 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $76,448 a year ($6,371 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,962 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a network and computer systems administrator?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $99,130. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $73,795 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #56 of 101 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a network and computer systems 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) — 24% of a median network and computer systems 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
- Database Administrator — $109,680
- Data Scientist — $107,640
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660
- Computer Programmer — $99,750