Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers Salary in Chicago, IL
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $35,000 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $28,715 take-home, or $2,393 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,020
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,170
- Medicare (1.45%)$508
- Illinois income tax$1,588
- Take-home pay$28,715
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 →
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $32,040 | $15.40 | $26,483 | $2,207 |
| Median (50th) | $35,000 | $16.83 | $28,715 | $2,393 |
| 75th percentile | $35,140 | $16.89 | $28,820 | $2,402 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $38,600 | $18.56 | $31,429 | $2,619 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,000 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 ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers's $28,715 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,718 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.3× the national concentration of ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $44,250 | $37,735 | $33,955 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $38,380 | $32,038 | $30,287 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $38,310 | $31,490 | $27,976 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,870 | $31,612 | $27,836 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $35,000 | $28,715 | $27,718 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $32,510 | $27,698 | $26,809 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $30,110 | $26,373 | $26,317 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $26,860 | $23,729 | $24,059 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
About the job: ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers
Assist patrons at entertainment events by performing duties, such as collecting admission tickets and passes from patrons, assisting in finding seats, searching for lost articles, and helping patrons locate such facilities as restrooms and telephones.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +0.9% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers make in Chicago, IL?
The median ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,000 a year, or about $16.83 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $32,040 and $35,140.
What is a ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $35,000 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $28,715 a year ($2,393 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,588 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $32,910. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,718 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers 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) — 64% of a median ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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