Data vintage · May 2025 · Ranked by median annual wage
Lowest-paying jobs in Chicago
716 occupations with published wages, ranked
The lowest published median wage in Chicago belongs to Bartenders, at $31,200 per year. The highest is $479,910.
The 10 lowest-paying occupations
| # | Occupation | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bartenders | $31,200 | 28,750 | |
| 2 | Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | 54,100 | |
| 3 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | 18,100 | |
| 4 | Gambling Dealers | $31,200 | 2,400 | |
| 5 | Telemarketers | $31,200 | 840 | |
| 6 | Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | 13,390 | |
| 7 | Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $32,990 | 150 | |
| 8 | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | 4,960 | |
| 9 | Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $33,830 | 180 | |
| 10 | School Bus Monitors | $33,890 | 5,210 |
At the other end of the scale
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | $479,910 | — |
| Cardiologists | $475,590 | 150 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $462,620 | 340 |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $446,510 | 50 |
| Dermatologists | $435,750 | — |
| Chief Executives | $344,960 | 3,610 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $336,660 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $293,490 | 6,360 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $284,630 | 510 |
| Dentists, All Other Specialists | $269,160 | 150 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $265,880 | 840 |
| Psychiatrists | $258,750 | 600 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200 | 960 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $226,060 | 680 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $225,080 | 1,430 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $208,000 | 1,120 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $189,780 | 850 |
| Pediatricians, General | $188,340 | 860 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | 24,950 |
| Financial Managers | $168,810 | 41,590 |
| Podiatrists | $167,140 | — |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $167,040 | 2,270 |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $166,390 | 160 |
| Lawyers | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Medical Dosimetrists | $165,620 | 110 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Rankings cover only occupations for which a median wage was published; occupations the survey suppressed do not appear. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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