Accountants and Auditors salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Accountants and Auditors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $82,360 a year ($39.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 41,360 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,100 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $83,680. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $80,230. There are 9.2 accountants and auditors per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $91,990, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for accountants and auditors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,530 | $28.62 |
| 25th percentile | $72,280 | $34.75 |
| Median | $82,360 | $39.60 |
| 75th percentile | $103,120 | $49.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $134,100 | $64.47 |
| Average (mean) | $91,990 | $44.22 |
Half of accountants and auditors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,863.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,431.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,167.69 |
| Weekly | $1,583.85 |
| Hourly | $39.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $82,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Accountants and Auditors salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | $86,440 | 1,600 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $80,640 | 10,050 |
| Peoria, IL | $79,540 | 1,350 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $79,290 | 11,210 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $78,880 | 13,610 |
| Columbus, IN | $78,740 | 330 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $77,940 | 1,020 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $77,740 | 570 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $77,600 | 1,560 |
| Kokomo, IN | $77,520 | 170 |
| Evansville, IN | $77,440 | 1,050 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $77,420 | 990 |
| Decatur, IL | $76,720 | 260 |
| Bloomington, IN | $76,640 | 480 |
| Bloomington, IL | $76,510 | 750 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $76,320 | 4,590 |
| Rockford, IL | $75,260 | 850 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $75,250 | 1,640 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $73,650 | 280 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $72,550 | 310 |
| Muncie, IN | $71,820 | 270 |
| Kankakee, IL | $71,610 | 210 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $69,670 | 730 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $64,010 | 320 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $63,170 | 510 |
Highest-paying states for accountants and auditors
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| New York | $102,640 |
| New Jersey | $100,830 |
| Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| Connecticut | $97,550 |
| California | $97,050 |
| Colorado | $97,030 |
| Washington | $96,550 |
| Rhode Island | $95,820 |
| Delaware | $95,020 |
See Accountants and Auditors pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,750 | $48.92 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $113,210 | $54.43 |
| Loan Officer | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,740 | $39.30 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Financial Examiner | $98,470 | $47.34 |
| Credit Analyst | $92,900 | $44.67 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| Tax Preparer | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| Credit Counselor | $57,210 | $27.51 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Budget Analyst | $88,460 | $42.53 |
| Management Analyst | $105,090 | $50.53 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a accountants and auditors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for accountants and auditors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $82,360 a year, or $39.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $134,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid accountants and auditors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of accountants and auditors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $134,100 a year. The top 25% earn $103,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for accountants and auditors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,530 a year, and a quarter of accountants and auditors earn $72,280 or less.
How many accountants and auditors work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 41,360 accountants and auditors are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.