May 2025 · Metropolitan area · BLS OEWS
Salaries in Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
716 occupations
Across 716 occupations with published wages in Chicago, radiologists record the highest median at $479,910 per year.
Highest-paying occupations in Chicago
| # | Occupation | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Radiologists | $479,910 | — | |
| 2 | Cardiologists | $475,590 | 150 | |
| 3 | Surgeons, All Other | $462,620 | 340 | |
| 4 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $446,510 | 50 | |
| 5 | Dermatologists | $435,750 | — | |
| 6 | Chief Executives | $344,960 | 3,610 | |
| 7 | Physicians, Pathologists | $336,660 | — | |
| 8 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $293,490 | 6,360 | |
| 9 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $284,630 | 510 | |
| 10 | Dentists, All Other Specialists | $269,160 | 150 | |
| 11 | Nurse Anesthetists | $265,880 | 840 | |
| 12 | Psychiatrists | $258,750 | 600 | |
| 13 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $239,200 | 960 | |
| 14 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $226,060 | 680 | |
| 15 | Family Medicine Physicians | $225,080 | 1,430 | |
| 16 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $208,000 | 1,120 | |
| 17 | Air Traffic Controllers | $189,780 | 850 | |
| 18 | Pediatricians, General | $188,340 | 860 | |
| 19 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | 24,950 | |
| 20 | Financial Managers | $168,810 | 41,590 | |
| 21 | Podiatrists | $167,140 | — | |
| 22 | Natural Sciences Managers | $167,040 | 2,270 | |
| 23 | Advertising and Promotions Managers | $166,390 | 160 | |
| 24 | Lawyers | $165,660 | 28,320 | |
| 25 | Medical Dosimetrists | $165,620 | 110 |
Largest occupations by employment
| Occupation | Jobs | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 157,920 | $40,550 |
| General and Operations Managers | 122,930 | $109,390 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 108,520 | $38,180 |
| Registered Nurses | 100,240 | $100,490 |
| Cashiers | 99,240 | $35,010 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 97,280 | $34,630 |
| Retail Salespersons | 96,950 | $35,820 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 79,850 | $38,450 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 75,240 | $47,100 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 70,000 | $38,470 |
Lowest-paying occupations
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Bartenders | $31,200 | 28,750 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $31,200 | 54,100 |
| Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | $31,200 | 18,100 |
| Gambling Dealers | $31,200 | 2,400 |
| Telemarketers | $31,200 | 840 |
| Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop | $31,720 | 13,390 |
| Gambling Service Workers, All Other | $32,990 | 150 |
| Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | $33,750 | 4,960 |
| Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers | $33,830 | 180 |
| School Bus Monitors | $33,890 | 5,210 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.