Chicago accountant salary: rankings and context
Monthly take-home on that median is roughly US$6,100; local prices sit at COL 100, so its buying power is about US$82,400.
Accountant pay in Chicago: national and in-state ranking
San Jose leads at US$121,700, 48% above Chicago, while San Antonio sits at US$78,650. The neighbours in the ranking are Dallas and Raleigh.
With Chicago as the sole IL entry for accountants, the useful benchmarks are national: 16th of 21, -2% vs the median.
What the Chicago median is worth after tax and rent
Living costs are close to the baseline (COL index 100), so the median's buying power, about US$82,400, is near its face value.
Adjusting for prices does not move Chicago in the ranking: it is 16th of 21 on both cash and buying power.
Take-home on the median comes to roughly US$6,100 monthly (11% effective tax in our simplified model). Rent for a modeled 1-bedroom is 27% of it, and the single-adult budget ends about US$2,590 in the black.
Chicago vs similar-cost metros
A accountant moving from Chicago to New York (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 28% to US$105,650, with US$1,510 more left over monthly in our model.
A accountant moving from Chicago to Los Angeles (similar cost level, COL 100) would see the median rise 15% to US$94,360, with US$780 more left over monthly in our model.
In Houston — similar cost level, COL 100 — the median is US$85,090 (+3% vs Chicago), and the modeled budget leaves US$180 more each month.
Where Accountant ranks among Chicago jobs
Of the 9 roles we track in Chicago, Accountant is 9th by median; the highest is Lawyer (US$165,660).
Closest neighbours in the Chicago list: Frontend Developer at US$96,870 (+18%).
Where Chicago stands for junior and senior accountants
Starting pay holds up better than senior pay here. The 10th percentile places 12th nationally among observed metros; the 90th places 15th.
For the top 10% of earners, San Jose leads with US$196,890 at the 90th percentile, +47% against Chicago.
The accountant pay range in Chicago
Pay is spread out: US$59,530 at the 10th percentile to US$134,100 at the 90th (2.3×). Level and setting matter more than the city average here.