Commercial and Industrial Designers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,090 or more. The middle half of commercial and industrial designers in Chicago earn between $80,040 and $112,950.
- $64K10th
- $80K25th
- $113KMedian
- $113K75th
- $136K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,010 | $8,501 | $49.04 |
| Median | $112,950 | $9,412 | $54.30 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,040 | $6,670 | $38.48 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $112,950 | $9,412 | $54.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial and Industrial Designers pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Commercial and industrial designers in Chicago earn 9% more than the U.S. average ($93,260). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $83,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $102,010 | $112,950 | $63,920 | $136,090 | 420 |
| United States | $93,260 | $83,910 | $53,460 | $139,770 | 33,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $102,010, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $75,686 a year, or $6,307 a month and $2,911 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $77,564 | $6,464 |
| Working in IL | $75,686 | $6,307 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for commercial and industrial designers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $102,010 buys what about $98,470 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$89,990
- Lafayette, IN$87,800
- Elkhart, IN$78,740
- Kalamazoo, MI$81,350
- Madison, WI$90,470
- Grand Rapids, MI$81,040
Highest-paying cities for commercial and industrial designers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,840).
- San Jose, CA$148,840
- Wichita, KS$125,560
- Kiryas Joel, NY$124,950
- Seattle, WA$110,450
- Austin, TX$110,000
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Commercial and Industrial Designers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do commercial and industrial designers make an hour in Chicago?
$49.04 an hour on average, and $54.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level commercial and industrial designers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,040, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial and industrial designers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $75,686 a year ($6,307 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,010.
Do commercial and industrial designers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. average for this job ($93,260).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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