Counter and Rental Clerks pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,170 a year or less, while the top 10% make $65,330 or more. The middle half of counter and rental clerks in Chicago earn between $35,890 and $48,880.
- $32K10th
- $36K25th
- $38KMedian
- $49K75th
- $65K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $45,100 | $3,758 | $21.68 |
| Median | $38,180 | $3,182 | $18.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $35,890 | $2,991 | $17.25 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $48,880 | $4,073 | $23.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Counter and Rental Clerks pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Counter and rental clerks in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($44,910) and about the same as the U.S. average ($45,700). At the median the gap is -8% against the U.S. median of $41,300.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $45,100 | $38,180 | $32,170 | $65,330 | 6,220 |
| Illinois | $44,910 | $38,140 | $31,870 | $63,500 | 8,440 |
| United States | $45,700 | $41,300 | $29,800 | $65,370 | 400,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Counter and Rental Clerks salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $45,100, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $36,326 a year, or $3,027 a month and $1,397 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $37,095 | $3,091 |
| Working in IL | $36,326 | $3,027 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for counter and rental clerks? 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 $45,100 buys what about $43,535 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Counter and Rental Clerks salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 4th of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($45,870).
- Champaign$45,870
- Peoria$45,730
- Rockford$45,290
- Chicago$45,100
- Bloomington$44,190
- Springfield$42,720
- Kankakee$41,500
- Decatur$40,260
Highest-paying cities for counter and rental clerks
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($56,030).
- San Jose, CA$56,030
- Fort Collins, CO$53,890
- Washington, DC$53,870
- San Francisco, CA$53,840
- Seattle, WA$53,820
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Counter and Rental Clerks salary in Chicago: questions
How much do counter and rental clerks make an hour in Chicago?
$21.68 an hour on average, and $18.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level counter and rental clerks salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $32,170 a year and the 25th percentile is $35,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the counter and rental clerks take-home pay in Chicago?
About $36,326 a year ($3,027 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $45,100.
Do counter and rental clerks earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($45,700).
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 41-2021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.0%.
- 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 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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