Compensation and Benefits Managers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,320 a year or less, while the top 10% make $237,060 or more. The middle half of compensation and benefits managers in Chicago earn between $109,590 and $205,160.
- $79K10th
- $110K25th
- $155KMedian
- $205K75th
- $237K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $158,850 | $13,238 | $76.37 |
| Median | $155,340 | $12,945 | $74.68 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,590 | $9,132 | $52.69 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $205,160 | $17,097 | $98.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $158,850, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $112,118 a year, or $9,343 a month and $4,312 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 | $115,104 | $9,592 |
| Working in IL | $112,118 | $9,343 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for compensation and benefits managers? 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 $158,850 buys what about $153,338 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$150,610
- Madison, WI$154,890
- Grand Rapids, MI$148,110
- Indianapolis, IN$132,110
- Ann Arbor, MI$174,160
- Toledo, OH$123,820
Highest-paying cities for compensation and benefits managers
Bridgeport, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($241,430).
- Bridgeport, CT$241,430
- San Jose, CA$227,460
- Seattle, WA$216,590
- Fayetteville, AR$214,020
- San Francisco, CA$203,270
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Compensation and Benefits Managers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do compensation and benefits managers make an hour in Chicago?
$76.37 an hour on average, and $74.68 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level compensation and benefits managers salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,320 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the compensation and benefits managers take-home pay in Chicago?
About $112,118 a year ($9,343 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $158,850.
Do compensation and benefits managers earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($167,403).
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 11-3111; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 0.91, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.