Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products Salary
The median pay for a graders and sorters, agricultural products in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $39,870/year ($19.17/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $38,488 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 65.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for graders and sorters, agricultural products, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $36K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 66.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level graders and sorters, agricultural products (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Graders and Sorters, Agricultural Products salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $49K | +36% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $48K | +33% | 30 |
| Maine | $46K | +28% | 40 |
| North Dakota | $46K | +28% | 260 |
| Nebraska | $46K | +28% | 330 |
| Utah | $43K | +20% | 100 |
| Iowa | $42K | +19% | 170 |
| Massachusetts | $42K | +17% | 40 |
| Maryland | $42K | +17% | 430 |
| Illinois | $42K | +17% | 220 |
| South Dakota | $40K | +12% | 380 |
| Michigan | $39K | +10% | 100 |
| Ohio | $39K | +8% | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | +8% | 970 |
| Kansas | $38K | +7% | 160 |
| New Jersey | $38K | +6% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $37K | +4% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $37K | +3% | 640 |
| California | $36K | +2% | 5,750 |
| Louisiana | $36K | +1% | 280 |
| Texas | $36K | +1% | 1,950 |
| Missouri | $36K | +0% | 530 |
| Georgia | $35K | -1% | 1,700 |
| Alabama | $35K | -1% | 840 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -1% | 1,650 |
| Washington | $35K | -2% | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $35K | -2% | 230 |
| North Carolina | $35K | -3% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -3% | 260 |
| Oregon | $35K | -3% | 730 |
| South Carolina | $35K | -3% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $33K | -7% | 110 |
| Arizona | $32K | -11% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $30K | -15% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $30K | -16% | 1,140 |
| Idaho | $28K | -23% | 600 |
| Florida | $27K | -23% | 880 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track graders and sorters, agricultural products salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a graders and sorters, agricultural product afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 66.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for graders and sorters, agricultural products in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new graders and sorters, agricultural products typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,057/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 87% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is graders and sorters, agricultural product a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $40K here vs. $36K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for graders and sorters, agricultural products?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $36K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $38K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do graders and sorters, agricultural products make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $39,870 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,280, and experienced graders and sorters, agricultural products can clear $58,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,675/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 66.6% 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products 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 graders and sorters, agricultural products salary is worth about $38,488 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do graders and sorters, agricultural products 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.