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Advertising Sales Agents Salary

in Illinois

The median pay for a advertising sales agents in Illinois is $66,290/year ($31.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $143K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $70,634 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 32.3% of take-home, which is tight.

Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:

$66K
Median annual
$31.87/hr
Hourly rate
$31K
Entry level (10th %)
$143K
Senior level (90th %)

So what does $66K get you in Illinois?

Estimated monthly take-home$4,312/mo
Median 2BR rent-$1,407/mo
Rent as % of take-home32.6% (above 30% guideline)
Cost-of-living adjusted salary$70,634/yr
Monthly remaining after rent$2,905/mo

About advertising sales agents

Education: High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employed: 91,700
Illinois employed: 3,790
Category: Sales

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What this looks like in Illinois

Advertising sales agents pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $66K locally vs. $65K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois

Bar chart showing Advertising Sales Agents salary percentiles in Illinois: 10th percentile $31,200, 25th percentile $47,620, median $66,290, 75th percentile $99,010, 90th percentile $142,870. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$31K25th$48KMedian$66K75th$99K90th$143K
Bar chart showing Advertising Sales Agents salary percentiles in Illinois: 10th percentile $31,200, 25th percentile $47,620, median $66,290, 75th percentile $99,010, 90th percentile $142,870. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level advertising sales agents (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $143K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.

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Advertising Sales Agents salary by metro in Illinois

4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay

Metro areaMedian salaryvs. stateEmployment
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin$76K+14%2,830
Champaign-Urbana$75K+14%60
Rockford$67K+1%110
Peoria$31K-53%160

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Track advertising sales agents salary changes

BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.

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Frequently asked questions

Can a advertising sales agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?

It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $66K, rent takes 32.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.

What’s the entry-level salary for advertising sales agents in Illinois?

The 10th-percentile wage — what new advertising sales agents typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.

Is advertising sales agent a high-paying job in Illinois?

Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $66K locally vs. $65K nationally, a 2% difference.

How does Illinois compare to the national average for advertising sales agents?

Illinois pays $66K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — still ahead of the national median.

How much do advertising sales agents make in Illinois?

The median is $66,290 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced advertising sales agents can clear $142,870. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $66K enough to live in Illinois?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,312/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 32.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.

How far does a advertising sales agents salary go in Illinois?

Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median advertising sales agents salary is worth about $70,634 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do advertising sales agents get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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