Teller Salary in Chicago, IL
Tellers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $44,540 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,908 take-home, or $2,992 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teller salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,165
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$646
- Illinois income tax$2,060
- Take-home pay$35,908
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.
Teller pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,480 | $17.54 | $29,831 | $2,486 |
| 25th percentile | $38,160 | $18.35 | $31,097 | $2,591 |
| Median (50th) | $44,540 | $21.41 | $35,908 | $2,992 |
| 75th percentile | $46,160 | $22.19 | $37,129 | $3,094 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,030 | $23.57 | $39,293 | $3,274 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,540 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 teller's $35,908 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,662 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Teller jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for tellers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #84 of 124 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines, IA | $45,450 | $37,624 | $41,029 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $45,560 | $38,317 | $40,796 |
| 3 | Toledo, OH | $44,160 | $37,231 | $40,709 |
| 4 | Cincinnati, OH | $45,920 | $38,596 | $40,470 |
| 5 | Dayton, OH | $43,940 | $37,060 | $39,981 |
| 6 | Olympia, WA | $48,700 | $41,310 | $39,848 |
| 7 | Greenville, SC | $45,360 | $37,062 | $39,741 |
| 8 | Lakeland, FL | $45,240 | $38,530 | $39,664 |
| 84 | Chicago, IL | $44,540 | $35,908 | $34,662 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 124 metros →
Teller salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $37,220
- Champaign, IL — $36,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teller make in Chicago, IL?
The median teller salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $44,540 a year, or about $21.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,160 and $46,160.
What is a teller’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $44,540 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $35,908 a year ($2,992 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,060 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a teller?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $43,030. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,662 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #84 of 124 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teller 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) — 51% of a median teller’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