Transportation Inspector Salary in Chicago, IL
Transportation Inspectors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $55,070 a year — 40% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,848 take-home, or $3,654 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median transportation inspector salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,428
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,414
- Medicare (1.45%)$799
- Illinois income tax$2,581
- Take-home pay$43,848
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.
Transportation Inspector pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,500 | $17.55 | $29,846 | $2,487 |
| 25th percentile | $39,920 | $19.19 | $32,424 | $2,702 |
| Median (50th) | $55,070 | $26.48 | $43,848 | $3,654 |
| 75th percentile | $105,660 | $50.80 | $78,076 | $6,506 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $137,050 | $65.89 | $98,300 | $8,192 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $55,070 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 transportation inspector's $43,848 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,326 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Transportation Inspector jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.81).
Best-paying cities for transportation inspectors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $126,010 | $97,394 | $94,475 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $107,640 | $79,591 | $79,545 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $92,570 | $73,953 | $74,981 |
| 4 | Miami, FL | $100,100 | $79,250 | $69,423 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $101,040 | $73,431 | $64,659 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $93,420 | $70,079 | $62,258 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $55,070 | $43,848 | $42,326 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,990 | $42,863 | $41,487 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a transportation inspector make in Chicago, IL?
The median transportation inspector salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $55,070 a year, or about $26.48 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,920 and $105,660.
What is a transportation inspector’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $55,070 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $43,848 a year ($3,654 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,581 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a transportation inspector?
Pay here is 40% below the national median of $92,100. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,326 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a transportation inspector 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) — 42% of a median transportation inspector’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Air Traffic Controller — $189,780
- Commercial Pilot — $157,420
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $77,470
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $76,530
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — $72,180
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $68,330
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,200
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,300
- Flight Attendant — $62,120
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders — $61,420
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — $59,330