Whether you are weighing a job offer, asking for a raise, or planning a career move, one question sits underneath all of it: what does this role actually pay in Chicago? Salary is one of the hardest things to research honestly — public numbers are often national averages that miss local reality. This guide shares grounded pay ranges for the in-demand roles we recruit for across the Chicago market, along with the factors that push an offer higher or lower.
A note before the numbers: the ranges below are general market ranges for the Chicago metro, meant as planning guidance, not a quote. Real offers vary with experience, shift, certifications, employer, and how in-demand a specific skill is at a given moment. Treat these as a starting point for a conversation, not a fixed rate.
What drives a Chicago salary up or down?
Before the sector numbers, it helps to know the levers. Across almost every field, the same factors move an offer:
- Experience and seniority — the single biggest driver in most roles
- Certifications and licences — specialist credentials often carry a clear premium
- Shift and schedule — nights, weekends, and travel assignments typically pay more
- Location within the metro — downtown and specialist employers often pay above outlying areas
- Contract vs. permanent — contract and travel roles can carry higher hourly rates that offset the lack of benefits
- Scarcity — when a skill is genuinely hard to find, the market rate rises fast
The people who negotiate best are not the pushiest — they are the ones who know their real market rate and can speak to the specific value they bring.
Healthcare and nursing
Healthcare remains one of Chicago's deepest and most resilient employment markets, anchored by major hospital systems and a large network of clinics and care facilities. Demand for clinical talent consistently outpaces easy supply, which keeps pay competitive — especially for specialised and travel roles.
As a general guide for the Chicago market:
- Registered Nurses (RNs) typically fall in the region of 38 to 55 dollars an hour, with specialty units (ICU, ER, OR) and travel contracts often reaching higher.
- Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) commonly sit around 28 to 38 dollars an hour.
- Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) generally range from about 18 to 26 dollars an hour.
- Allied health professionals — imaging techs, lab technologists, therapists — vary widely by specialty and certification, frequently landing between 30 and 55 dollars an hour.
Travel and per-diem assignments deserve a special mention: they often pay a premium over permanent staff roles, and for nurses willing to be flexible on setting or schedule, they can be one of the fastest ways to raise earnings. Explore current healthcare opportunities to see where demand is strongest.
Skilled trades: construction and electrical
Chicago's construction and infrastructure pipeline keeps skilled-trade talent in steady demand, and these roles are among the most AI-resilient work there is — you cannot automate a licensed electrician on a live site. Pay reflects skill level, certification, and union status.
- Journeyman electricians in the Chicago area commonly earn in the region of 35 to 55 dollars an hour, with master electricians and specialised industrial work higher, and union scale often at the top of the range.
- Apprentices typically earn a graduated percentage of journeyman scale that rises with each period of training.
- Skilled construction trades — carpenters, welders, HVAC technicians, site supervisors — generally range from about 28 to 50 dollars an hour depending on trade, certification, and experience.
Certifications and a clean safety record move these numbers meaningfully. Browse construction and electrical roles to see what is live now.
Information technology and engineering
Chicago's technology scene has grown into a genuine hub, and demand has shifted toward AI, data, platform, and security skills rather than shrinking — a trend we explore in will AI take over software developer jobs. Pay is strong for in-demand specialisms.
As general annual ranges for the Chicago market:
- Software engineers commonly fall between roughly 90,000 and 160,000 dollars, with senior, specialist, and AI/ML roles above that.
- Data engineers and data scientists typically range from about 100,000 to 165,000 dollars depending on seniority and domain.
- DevOps and platform engineers generally sit in a similar band, often 110,000 to 170,000 dollars for experienced practitioners.
- IT support and systems administration roles more commonly range from about 55,000 to 95,000 dollars.
For contract technology work, hourly rates are correspondingly high and reward scarce, up-to-date skills. See live IT and engineering opportunities.
Finance, accounting, and professional services
Chicago is a major centre for finance and professional services, and skilled accounting and finance talent is consistently sought after. Credentials — a CPA, in particular — carry a clear premium.
As general annual ranges:
- Staff and senior accountants commonly earn between roughly 60,000 and 95,000 dollars, rising with a CPA and specialisation.
- Financial analysts typically range from about 70,000 to 110,000 dollars depending on experience and industry.
- Controllers and finance managers generally sit well above that, frequently 110,000 dollars and up.
- AP/AR and bookkeeping specialists more commonly range from about 45,000 to 70,000 dollars.
Explore finance and accounting roles for current openings.
How should you use these numbers?
Ranges are a map, not the territory. Here is how to put them to work:
- Anchor your expectations, then research your specific role. A "software engineer" range is wide because the title covers juniors and principals. Pin down where you actually sit.
- Factor in the whole package. Benefits, bonus, shift differentials, overtime, and — for contract work — the higher hourly rate all change the real comparison.
- Know your leverage. Scarce certifications, in-demand skills, and a strong track record are what move an offer up. Be ready to speak to them.
- Use a recruiter as a live market check. This is one of the most underused advantages in a job search: a specialist recruiter knows what a specific employer is actually paying right now, and can often negotiate a better package than a candidate can cold.
The best time to learn your market rate is before you are sitting across from an offer — not after you have already said yes.
The bottom line
Chicago rewards skilled talent, and across healthcare, the trades, technology, and finance, demand keeps pay competitive for people who bring genuine expertise. Use the ranges here to plan, dig into the specifics of your own role, and lean on the levers — experience, certifications, scarcity, and flexibility — that move an offer in your favour.
When you are ready to turn research into a real move, our specialist recruiters can tell you what your skills command in today's market and match you to employers who value them. Browse current opportunities or talk to a recruiter about your next step. And if you are thinking longer-term, our guide to future-proofing your career in the age of AI pairs well with this one.