Travel Agents Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, travel agents earn $47,720 at the median — $22.94 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $46,066 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 54.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $48K 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level travel agents (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $48K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Travel Agents pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $64K | +32% | 140 |
| Washington | $63K | +29% | 4,030 |
| Wyoming | $62K | +27% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $61K | +26% | 540 |
| Nevada | $61K | +25% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $60K | +23% | 1,470 |
| Alaska | $57K | +19% | 280 |
| Massachusetts | $54K | +12% | 1,850 |
| Montana | $54K | +11% | 210 |
| Texas | $51K | +5% | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $51K | +5% | 80 |
| New York | $50K | +4% | 3,100 |
| Oregon | $50K | +3% | 630 |
| Arizona | $49K | +2% | 2,020 |
| Tennessee | $49K | +1% | 600 |
| New Hampshire | $49K | +0% | 150 |
| Idaho | $49K | +0% | 230 |
| Alabama | $49K | +0% | 510 |
| California | $49K | +0% | 5,780 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -0% | 1,290 |
| Nebraska | $48K | -1% | 400 |
| Minnesota | $48K | -1% | 780 |
| Kentucky | $48K | -1% | 250 |
| Florida | $48K | -1% | 9,730 |
| Illinois | $48K | -2% | 2,990 |
| Kansas | $47K | -2% | 190 |
| Wisconsin | $47K | -3% | 870 |
| North Dakota | $47K | -3% | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | -3% | 1,770 |
| Indiana | $47K | -3% | 770 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -3% | 530 |
| Michigan | $47K | -4% | 1,070 |
| South Dakota | $47K | -4% | 180 |
| Rhode Island | $46K | -5% | 200 |
| Georgia | $46K | -5% | 2,240 |
| Louisiana | $46K | -6% | 260 |
| Iowa | $45K | -7% | 400 |
| Ohio | $45K | -8% | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $45K | -8% | 520 |
| Missouri | $44K | -9% | 1,830 |
| Utah | $41K | -15% | 460 |
| Maine | $38K | -22% | 110 |
| Virginia | $38K | -22% | 1,060 |
| West Virginia | $36K | -26% | 230 |
| New Mexico | $35K | -27% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $35K | -28% | 150 |
| Oklahoma | $35K | -28% | 690 |
| Hawaii | $32K | -34% | 490 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track travel agents 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 travel agents make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $47,720 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,080, and experienced travel agents can clear $83,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $48K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,168/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 56.2% 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 travel agents 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 travel agents salary is worth about $46,066 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do travel agents 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.