Packers and Packagers, Hand Salary in Chicago, IL
Packers and Packagers, Hand in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $36,180 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,605 take-home, or $2,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median packers and packagers, hand salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,162
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,243
- Medicare (1.45%)$525
- Illinois income tax$1,646
- Take-home pay$29,605
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 →
Packers and Packagers, Hand pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,570 | $15.18 | $26,129 | $2,177 |
| 25th percentile | $34,840 | $16.75 | $28,594 | $2,383 |
| Median (50th) | $36,180 | $17.39 | $29,605 | $2,467 |
| 75th percentile | $40,580 | $19.51 | $32,922 | $2,744 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,420 | $22.80 | $38,079 | $3,173 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,180 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 packers and packagers, hand's $29,605 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,577 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Packers and Packagers, Hand jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.11).
Best-paying cities for packers and packagers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #33 of 47 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City, MO | $44,460 | $36,751 | $39,713 |
| 2 | Philadelphia, PA | $43,970 | $36,160 | $35,259 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $37,440 | $32,016 | $34,087 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | $38,090 | $32,520 | $34,064 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $44,010 | $37,542 | $33,781 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $35,630 | $30,809 | $33,423 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $37,280 | $31,320 | $32,938 |
| 8 | Cincinnati, OH | $36,650 | $31,403 | $32,927 |
| 33 | Chicago, IL | $36,180 | $29,605 | $28,577 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 47 metros →
About the job: packers and packagers, hand
Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.0% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a packers and packagers, hand make in Chicago, IL?
The median packers and packagers, hand salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36,180 a year, or about $17.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,840 and $40,580.
What is a packers and packagers, hand’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $36,180 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,605 a year ($2,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,646 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a packers and packagers, hand?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $36,280. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,577 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #33 of 47 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a packers and packagers, 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) — 62% of a median packers and packagers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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