Editors Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, editors earn $71,600 at the median, or about $34.43 an hour. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $69,119 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 37.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $72K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About editors
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level editors (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Editors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $99K | +31% | 17,410 |
| Delaware | $92K | +22% | 180 |
| California | $91K | +20% | 14,920 |
| Washington | $85K | +13% | 2,800 |
| Connecticut | $82K | +9% | 1,310 |
| District of Columbia | $82K | +8% | 3,580 |
| Virginia | $79K | +5% | 3,150 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +5% | 3,200 |
| West Virginia | $77K | +2% | 350 |
| Oregon | $73K | -3% | 890 |
| Maryland | $73K | -4% | 1,870 |
| Illinois | $68K | -10% | 3,680 |
| Georgia | $67K | -11% | 1,940 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -12% | 240 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | -14% | 310 |
| Florida | $64K | -14% | 4,000 |
| North Carolina | $64K | -15% | 2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -15% | 3,500 |
| Nevada | $63K | -16% | 310 |
| Vermont | $63K | -17% | 220 |
| Michigan | $62K | -17% | 1,740 |
| Arizona | $62K | -18% | 1,090 |
| Ohio | $61K | -19% | 1,770 |
| New Mexico | $61K | -19% | 270 |
| Utah | $60K | -20% | 550 |
| Wisconsin | $59K | -22% | 1,140 |
| Missouri | $59K | -22% | 1,020 |
| Iowa | $59K | -22% | 640 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -23% | 560 |
| Hawaii | $58K | -23% | 160 |
| Kentucky | $57K | -24% | 430 |
| South Dakota | $57K | -24% | 100 |
| North Dakota | $57K | -25% | 210 |
| Alaska | $55K | -26% | 50 |
| Kansas | $54K | -28% | 490 |
| Minnesota | $54K | -28% | 1,850 |
| Indiana | $52K | -32% | 1,110 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -32% | 960 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -34% | 280 |
| Louisiana | $49K | -35% | 330 |
| Maine | $48K | -37% | 310 |
| Idaho | $47K | -38% | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -39% | 540 |
| Montana | $45K | -40% | 210 |
| Alabama | $45K | -40% | 590 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -41% | 350 |
| Wyoming | $43K | -42% | 170 |
| Nebraska | $40K | -47% | 300 |
| Texas | $29K | -62% | 8,190 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track editors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do editors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $71,600 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $40,820, and experienced editors can clear $119,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,601/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 38.7% 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 editors salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median editors salary is worth about $69,119 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do editors 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.