Advertising Sales Agent salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Advertising Sales Agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $75,590 a year ($36.34 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,410 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $64,820. Pay here is 14% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $66,290. There are 0.63 advertising sales agents per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $83,130, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for advertising sales agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $51,730 | $24.87 |
| Median | $75,590 | $36.34 |
| 75th percentile | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,410 | $77.60 |
| Average (mean) | $83,130 | $39.97 |
Half of advertising sales agents 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 | $6,299.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,149.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,907.31 |
| Weekly | $1,453.65 |
| Hourly | $36.34 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $75,590 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Advertising Sales Agent salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $75,410 | 60 |
| Rockford, IL | $67,030 | 110 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $64,070 | 770 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $60,350 | 550 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,180 | 230 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $58,070 | 140 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $56,850 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $54,180 | 60 |
| Bloomington, IN | $52,950 | 60 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $51,920 | 50 |
| Evansville, IN | $50,190 | 70 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,270 | 760 |
| Peoria, IL | $31,200 | 160 |
Highest-paying states for advertising sales agents
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $101,320 |
| New York | $98,360 |
| Massachusetts | $80,500 |
| California | $80,360 |
| District of Columbia | $75,030 |
| Utah | $74,260 |
| Colorado | $73,420 |
| New Jersey | $69,620 |
| South Carolina | $68,200 |
| Illinois | $66,290 |
See Advertising Sales Agent pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,760 | $48.44 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Travel Agent | $49,160 | $23.64 |
| Cashier | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Retail Salesperson | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $75,350 | $36.23 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | $48,900 | $23.51 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,180 | $18.35 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $112,150 | $53.92 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $91,070 | $43.79 |
| Demonstrators and Product Promoters | $36,400 | $17.50 |
More: Sales and Related 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 41-3011. 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 advertising sales agent make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for advertising sales agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $75,590 a year, or $36.34 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid advertising sales agents make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of advertising sales agents in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $161,410 a year. The top 25% earn $100,620 or more.
What is the starting pay for advertising sales agents in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of advertising sales agents earn $51,730 or less.
How many advertising sales agents work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,830 advertising sales agents are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.