Office Clerks, General Salary in Chicago, IL
Office Clerks, General in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $46,330 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,258 take-home, or $3,105 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median office clerks, general salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,380
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,872
- Medicare (1.45%)$672
- Illinois income tax$2,149
- Take-home pay$37,258
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.
Office Clerks, General pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $32,580 | $15.66 | $26,890 | $2,241 |
| 25th percentile | $37,710 | $18.13 | $30,758 | $2,563 |
| Median (50th) | $46,330 | $22.27 | $37,258 | $3,105 |
| 75th percentile | $57,790 | $27.78 | $45,898 | $3,825 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,910 | $35.05 | $56,658 | $4,721 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,330 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 office clerks, general's $37,258 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,965 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Office Clerks, General jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for office clerks, general, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #253 of 370 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minot, ND | $50,160 | $42,484 | $48,816 |
| 2 | Grand Forks, ND | $48,570 | $41,206 | $47,547 |
| 3 | Bismarck, ND | $50,400 | $42,676 | $46,885 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $59,840 | $48,337 | $45,947 |
| 5 | Fargo, ND | $49,060 | $41,600 | $45,779 |
| 6 | Greeley, CO | $56,030 | $45,443 | $45,363 |
| 7 | Pueblo, CO | $50,670 | $41,372 | $45,086 |
| 8 | Fort Collins, CO | $55,960 | $45,390 | $44,884 |
| 253 | Chicago, IL | $46,330 | $37,258 | $35,965 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 370 metros →
Office Clerks, General salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Champaign, IL — $48,800
- Springfield, IL — $47,990
- Decatur, IL — $44,040
- Rockford, IL — $43,400
- Peoria, IL — $41,600
- Bloomington, IL — $41,320
- Kankakee, IL — $40,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a office clerks, general make in Chicago, IL?
The median office clerks, general salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $46,330 a year, or about $22.27 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,710 and $57,790.
What is a office clerks, general’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $46,330 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,258 a year ($3,105 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,149 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a office clerks, general?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $45,010. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,965 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #253 of 370 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a office clerks, general 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) — 49% of a median office clerks, general’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $77,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $71,730
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $66,980
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $63,750
- Postal Service Clerk — $63,670
- Brokerage Clerk — $63,390
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $62,920
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $62,390
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $59,900
- Cargo and Freight Agent — $59,850
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $59,490
- File Clerk — $58,320