Occupations With the Highest Reported Median Wages in Chicago, IL

836 occupations have a published Bureau of Labor Statistics median wage in Chicago, IL for 2025. Rows are ordered by reported annual median wage.

Occupations

Occupation	Median annual wage	Employment	Salary page
Orderlies	$39,640	1,770	View salary detail
Helpers--Electricians	$39,550	60	View salary detail
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood	$39,510	180	View salary detail
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers	$39,280	2,190	View salary detail
Slaughterers and Meat Packers	$39,200	1,780	View salary detail
Aircraft Service Attendants	$39,070	640	View salary detail
Locker Room, Coatroom, and Dressing Room Attendants	$38,990	770	View salary detail
Crossing Guards and Flaggers	$38,990	2,140	View salary detail
Cooks, Restaurant	$38,930	41,690	View salary detail
Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic	$38,830	1,870	View salary detail
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers	$38,730	1,430	View salary detail
Tire Repairers and Changers	$38,720	2,810	View salary detail
Medical Transcriptionists	$38,700	720	View salary detail
Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$38,600	200	View salary detail
Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service	$38,570	2,380	View salary detail
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants	$38,520	1,200	View salary detail
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$38,470	70,000	View salary detail
Stockers and Order Fillers	$38,450	79,850	View salary detail
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria	$38,290	14,010	View salary detail
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs	$38,290	6,370	View salary detail
Bicycle Repairers	$38,250	470	View salary detail
Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders	$38,230	440	View salary detail
Counter and Rental Clerks	$38,180	6,220	View salary detail
Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand	$38,160	70	View salary detail
Manicurists and Pedicurists	$38,100	2,090	View salary detail
Tutors	$38,100	4,780	View salary detail
Receptionists and Information Clerks	$38,060	30,540	View salary detail
Retail Loss Prevention Specialists	$38,020	540	View salary detail
Protective Service Workers, All Other	$38,020	540	View salary detail
Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators	$37,940	—	View salary detail
Parking Attendants	$37,810	4,450	View salary detail
Concierges	$37,440	1,210	View salary detail
Cooks, Short Order	$37,440	1,780	View salary detail
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners	$37,310	18,260	View salary detail
Bakers	$37,230	9,920	View salary detail
Pharmacy Aides	$37,010	1,070	View salary detail
Woodworkers, All Other	$36,990	40	View salary detail
Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials	$36,980	410	View salary detail
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse	$36,890	1,020	View salary detail
Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians	$36,870	520	View salary detail
Dishwashers	$36,850	11,910	View salary detail
Photographers	$36,810	1,590	View salary detail
Taxi Drivers	$36,770	150	View salary detail
Physical Therapist Aides	$36,730	550	View salary detail
Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians	$36,730	520	View salary detail
Childcare Workers	$36,610	17,540	View salary detail
Nannies	$36,610	17,540	View salary detail
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment	$36,580	12,030	View salary detail
Sewers, Hand	$36,480	—	View salary detail
Demonstrators and Product Promoters	$36,400	2,520	View salary detail

Career and skills data: O*NET (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.