Marketing Managers Salary
The median pay for a marketing managers in Illinois is $162,860/year ($78.3/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $276K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $173,532 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 14.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $163K get you in Illinois?
About marketing managers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Marketing managers pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $163K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 14.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 marketing managers (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $163K. Top earners bring in $276K or more, a $180K spread from bottom to top.
Marketing Managers salary by metro in Illinois
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $165K | +2% | 17,400 |
| Peoria | $155K | -5% | 480 |
| Springfield | $142K | -13% | 160 |
| Decatur | $129K | -21% | 50 |
| Rockford | $124K | -24% | 170 |
| Kankakee | $121K | -26% | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $106K | -35% | 190 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marketing manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $163K, rent takes 14.8% 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 marketing managers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marketing managers typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,759/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is marketing manager a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $163K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for marketing managers?
Illinois pays $163K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $174K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do marketing managers make in Illinois?
The median is $162,860 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,990, and experienced marketing managers can clear $276,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $163K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,501/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 14.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a marketing managers 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 marketing managers salary is worth about $173,532 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marketing managers 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.