Travel Agent Salary in Chicago, IL
Travel Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $49,160 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,391 take-home, or $3,283 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median travel agent salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,719
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,048
- Medicare (1.45%)$713
- Illinois income tax$2,289
- Take-home pay$39,391
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.
Travel Agent pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,300 | $18.41 | $31,203 | $2,600 |
| 25th percentile | $45,340 | $21.80 | $36,511 | $3,043 |
| Median (50th) | $49,160 | $23.63 | $39,391 | $3,283 |
| 75th percentile | $61,070 | $29.36 | $48,372 | $4,031 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,500 | $38.22 | $60,968 | $5,081 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,160 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 travel agent's $39,391 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,024 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Travel Agent jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.09).
Best-paying cities for travel agents, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 20 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver, CO | $58,690 | $47,463 | $44,869 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $58,890 | $46,774 | $43,202 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $50,160 | $42,484 | $43,074 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $55,260 | $46,581 | $41,915 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $58,430 | $46,570 | $41,373 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $51,800 | $42,715 | $41,344 |
| 7 | Orlando, FL | $48,680 | $41,294 | $40,717 |
| 8 | St. Louis, MO | $46,460 | $38,264 | $40,241 |
| 15 | Chicago, IL | $49,160 | $39,391 | $38,024 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 20 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a travel agent make in Chicago, IL?
The median travel agent salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $49,160 a year, or about $23.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,340 and $61,070.
What is a travel agent’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $49,160 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $39,391 a year ($3,283 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,289 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a travel agent?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $50,160. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,024 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #15 of 20 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a travel agent 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) — 47% of a median travel agent’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products — $112,150
- Sales Engineer — $104,070
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents — $100,760
- First-Line Supervisor of Non-Retail Sales Workers — $91,070
- Advertising Sales Agent — $75,590
- Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products — $75,350
- Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel — $70,710
- Insurance Sales Agent — $69,240
- Real Estate Broker — $67,320
- Real Estate Sales Agent — $61,790
- Sales and Related Workers, All Other — $53,270
- First-Line Supervisor of Retail Sales Workers — $48,900