Tapers Salary
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, tapers earn $113,180 at the median, or about $54.41 an hour. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $117K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $109,258 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 24.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $113K 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 tapers
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for tapers, local pay runs about 66% higher than the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% 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 tapers in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $81K | $86K |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $67K | $73K |
| Kansas City | $81K | $88K |
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 tapers (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $113K. Top earners bring in $117K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Tapers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Tapers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $113K | +66% | 320 |
| Hawaii | $95K | +40% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $82K | +20% | 60 |
| Washington | $79K | +16% | 1,550 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +14% | 220 |
| New York | $78K | +14% | N/A |
| Kansas | $74K | +9% | 30 |
| Ohio | $74K | +8% | 110 |
| California | $73K | +8% | 4,540 |
| Oregon | $71K | +5% | 500 |
| Iowa | $67K | -2% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | -5% | 510 |
| Michigan | $64K | -7% | 190 |
| Connecticut | $64K | -7% | 80 |
| Missouri | $63K | -8% | 220 |
| Nevada | $61K | -11% | 1,190 |
| Wisconsin | $58K | -15% | 70 |
| Idaho | $58K | -15% | 310 |
| Arizona | $56K | -18% | 780 |
| Colorado | $55K | -20% | N/A |
| Utah | $53K | -22% | 210 |
| Florida | $49K | -28% | N/A |
| New Mexico | $48K | -29% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -33% | N/A |
| Texas | $44K | -36% | 220 |
| Indiana | $43K | -37% | 120 |
| West Virginia | $42K | -39% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 27 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track tapers 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 taper afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $113K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for tapers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tapers typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,754/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is taper a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 66% above the national median — $113K here vs. $68K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for tapers?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $113K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s +66%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tapers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $113,180 a year, that works out to about $54 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,230, and experienced tapers can clear $116,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $113K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,867/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a tapers 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 tapers salary is worth about $109,258 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tapers 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.