Designers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a designers, all other in Illinois is $77,460/year ($37.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $82,536 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Illinois. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $77K get you in Illinois?
About designers, all others
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for designers, all other, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level designers, all others (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track designers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a designers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for designers, all others in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new designers, all others typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,958/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is designers, all other a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $77K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for designers, all others?
Illinois pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do designers, all others make in Illinois?
The median is $77,460 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,970, and experienced designers, all others can clear $103,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,920/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a designers, all other 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 designers, all other salary is worth about $82,536 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do designers, all others 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.