What is the average Accountant salary in Chicago, IL?
Accountants in Chicago earn a median of $82,700 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $59,500 (25th percentile) to $128,200 (90th percentile).
Accountant salary by experience level
How Chicago pay compares
Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.
5-year salary trend
Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.
Accountant job market in Chicago
Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.
An estimated 9,400 accountants work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:
- Prepare financial statements
- File tax returns
- Audit accounts
- Reconcile records
- Advise on tax strategy
Related job salaries in Chicago
Accountant salary in other cities
FAQ
How much does a Accountant make in Chicago, IL?+
Accountants in Chicago earn a median of $82,700 per year — about 6% above the national average of $78,000.
What's the entry-level Accountant salary in Chicago?+
Entry-level Accountants in Chicago typically earn around $53,800 per year. Salaries scale to about $119,900 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.
Is $82,700 a good Accountant salary in Chicago?+
$82,700 is the median, meaning half of Accountants in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $77,300 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.
How fast is Accountant pay growing in Chicago?+
Accountant salaries in Chicago grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.
Where do Accountants in Chicago get paid the most?+
The 90th percentile Accountant salary in Chicago is around $128,200. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.
Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?
Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.
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