Salary report · Chicago, IL

What is the average Freelance Writer salary in Chicago, IL?

Freelance Writers in Chicago earn a median of $77,500 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $55,800 (25th percentile) to $120,100 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$55,800
Median
$77,500
75th percentile
$99,200
90th percentile
$120,100
YoY change
+3.9%

Freelance Writer salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$50,400
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$77,500
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$99,200
Lead · 8+ yrs
$112,400

How Chicago pay compares

Chicago median$77,500
National median$73,150
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 107)$72,400

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

$67K
2022
$69K
2023
$72K
2024
$75K
2025
$78K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.9%.

Freelance Writer 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 freelance writers work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Research and write articles
  • Pitch new clients
  • Edit and revise drafts
  • Invoice clients
  • Manage editorial calendars

Related job salaries in Chicago

Freelance Writer salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Freelance Writer make in Chicago, IL?+

Freelance Writers in Chicago earn a median of $77,500 per year — about 6% above the national average of $73,150.

What's the entry-level Freelance Writer salary in Chicago?+

Entry-level Freelance Writers in Chicago typically earn around $50,400 per year. Salaries scale to about $112,400 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $77,500 a good Freelance Writer salary in Chicago?+

$77,500 is the median, meaning half of Freelance Writers in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $72,400 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Freelance Writer pay growing in Chicago?+

Freelance Writer salaries in Chicago grew about 3.9% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +4%.

Where do Freelance Writers in Chicago get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Freelance Writer salary in Chicago is around $120,100. 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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