SOC 11-9072 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling Salary in Chicago, IL

The average salary for entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) in Chicago, Illinois is $83,460 a year ($40.13 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $80,570: half of the 2,530 people in this job in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 9% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($91,684).

$83,460average per year

$40.13 / hourMedian $80,570Take-home ≈ $63,554

  • $46K10th
  • $58K25th
  • $81KMedian
  • $103K75th
  • $128K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

2,530people in this job
-9%vs U.S. metro average
#1 of 6Illinois metros
104cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling pay range in Chicago

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $127,680 or more. The middle half of entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) in Chicago earn between $57,680 and $103,050.

  • $46K10th
  • $58K25th
  • $81KMedian
  • $103K75th
  • $128K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$83,460$6,955$40.12
Median$80,570$6,714$38.74
Entry level (25th percentile)$57,680$4,807$27.73
Experienced (75th percentile)$103,050$8,588$49.54

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salary after taxes in Chicago

On the average salary of $83,460, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $63,554 a year, or $5,296 a month and $2,444 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% 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:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in IN$65,070$5,423
Working in IL$63,554$5,296

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).

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Is Chicago a good place for entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling)? 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 $83,460 buys what about $80,564 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $83,460 is worth in another city

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salary in other Illinois cities

Chicago ranks 1st of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.

All Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salaries in Illinois

Highest-paying cities for entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling)

Naples, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($133,420).

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salary by city

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Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling salary in Chicago: questions

How much do entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) make an hour in Chicago?

$40.13 an hour on average, and $38.74 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) salary in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,680, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) take-home pay in Chicago?

About $63,554 a year ($5,296 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,460.

Do entertainment and recreation managers (except gambling) earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?

The average here is 9% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($91,684).

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 11-9072; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
  • 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 2.30, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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