Media and Communication Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a media and communication workers, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $89,620/year ($43.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $86,514 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $90K 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 media and communication workers, all others
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for media and communication workers, all other, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $74K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for media and communication workers, all others in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | $82K |
| Kansas City | $71K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level media and communication workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $90K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $70K spread from bottom to top.
Media and Communication Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Media and Communication Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $103K | +39% | 9,940 |
| New York | $81K | +10% | 770 |
| Rhode Island | $73K | -1% | 30 |
| Minnesota | $71K | -3% | 200 |
| Wisconsin | $70K | -5% | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | -6% | 470 |
| Virginia | $69K | -6% | 130 |
| Florida | $67K | -8% | 1,490 |
| District of Columbia | $67K | -8% | 100 |
| Georgia | $67K | -9% | 690 |
| Colorado | $67K | -9% | 270 |
| New Jersey | $67K | -9% | 480 |
| Massachusetts | $64K | -13% | N/A |
| Missouri | $64K | -13% | 80 |
| Texas | $61K | -17% | 570 |
| Illinois | $61K | -18% | N/A |
| Michigan | $59K | -20% | 60 |
| Maryland | $58K | -22% | 350 |
| Utah | $57K | -23% | N/A |
| Connecticut | $54K | -27% | 260 |
| Washington | $53K | -29% | 260 |
| Iowa | $50K | -32% | 80 |
| Vermont | $50K | -32% | 40 |
| Maine | $48K | -35% | 50 |
| Hawaii | $48K | -35% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -38% | 630 |
| Ohio | $45K | -38% | 130 |
| Nevada | $44K | -40% | 110 |
| New Mexico | $44K | -41% | 40 |
| Montana | $44K | -41% | 90 |
| North Carolina | $43K | -42% | N/A |
| Oregon | $42K | -43% | 260 |
| Kentucky | $39K | -47% | 40 |
| Indiana | $34K | -53% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $32K | -56% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track media and communication workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a media and communication workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $90K, rent takes 31.9% 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 $1,700/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for media and communication workers, all others in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new media and communication workers, all others typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,712/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is media and communication workers, all other a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $90K here vs. $74K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for media and communication workers, all others?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $90K median vs. the U.S. average of $74K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do media and communication workers, all others make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $89,620 a year, that works out to about $43 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,860, and experienced media and communication workers, all others can clear $131,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $90K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,583/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 31.9% 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 media and communication workers, all other 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 media and communication workers, all other salary is worth about $86,514 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do media and communication workers, 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.