Credit Counselors pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,360 or more. The middle half of credit counselors in Chicago earn between $48,750 and $62,660.
- $40K10th
- $49K25th
- $57KMedian
- $63K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $58,750 | $4,896 | $28.25 |
| Median | $57,210 | $4,768 | $27.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,750 | $4,062 | $23.44 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,660 | $5,222 | $30.12 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Credit Counselors pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Credit counselors in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($55,920) and about the same as the U.S. average ($57,210). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $52,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $58,750 | $57,210 | $40,420 | $79,360 | 800 |
| Illinois | $55,920 | $51,930 | $39,620 | $78,990 | 1,170 |
| United States | $57,210 | $52,230 | $38,350 | $80,440 | 27,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Credit Counselors salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $58,750, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $46,619 a year, or $3,885 a month and $1,793 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 | $47,653 | $3,971 |
| Working in IL | $46,619 | $3,885 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for credit counselors? 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 $58,750 buys what about $56,711 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Credit Counselors salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$57,310
- South Bend, IN$48,680
- Kalamazoo, MI$48,050
- Madison, WI$62,960
- Grand Rapids, MI$52,170
- Davenport, IA$49,780
Highest-paying cities for credit counselors
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($85,720).
- San Francisco, CA$85,720
- Salt Lake City, UT$79,060
- San Jose, CA$77,410
- Sacramento, CA$76,900
- San Diego, CA$72,810
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Credit Counselors salary in Chicago: questions
How much do credit counselors make an hour in Chicago?
$28.25 an hour on average, and $27.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level credit counselors salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the credit counselors take-home pay in Chicago?
About $46,619 a year ($3,885 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $58,750.
Do credit counselors earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($57,210).
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 13-2071; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- 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 0.99, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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