Retail Salesperson salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Retail Salespersons in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $35,820 a year ($17.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 96,950 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,580 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $35,410. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $35,370. There are 21 retail salespersons per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $39,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for retail salespersons in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $33,800 | $16.25 |
| Median | $35,820 | $17.22 |
| 75th percentile | $38,380 | $18.45 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,580 | $23.36 |
| Average (mean) | $39,370 | $18.93 |
Half of retail salespersons 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 | $2,985 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,492.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,377.69 |
| Weekly | $688.85 |
| Hourly | $17.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $35,820 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Retail Salesperson salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $33,870 | 2,180 |
| Peoria, IL | $33,870 | 3,710 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $33,820 | 29,750 |
| Decatur, IL | $33,650 | 950 |
| Rockford, IL | $33,540 | 2,970 |
| Springfield, IL | $33,450 | 2,570 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $33,360 | 2,270 |
| Kankakee, IL | $32,650 | 1,140 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $32,030 | 4,760 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,670 | 1,910 |
| Kokomo, IN | $31,580 | 1,290 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $31,530 | 28,840 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $31,200 | 5,860 |
| Muncie, IN | $31,060 | 1,710 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $30,930 | 4,000 |
| Bloomington, IN | $30,890 | 1,980 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $30,810 | 28,670 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $30,670 | 2,650 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $30,660 | 17,540 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $30,250 | 1,460 |
| Evansville, IN | $30,130 | 4,370 |
| Columbus, IN | $29,840 | 1,500 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $29,840 | 1,460 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $29,090 | 1,940 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $28,390 | 1,800 |
Highest-paying states for retail salespersons
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $39,560 |
| District of Columbia | $38,500 |
| California | $38,440 |
| Colorado | $37,950 |
| Hawaii | $37,790 |
| New York | $37,720 |
| Vermont | $37,400 |
| Alaska | $37,290 |
| Oregon | $36,770 |
| Maine | $36,640 |
See Retail Salesperson pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cashier | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Counter and Rental Clerks | $38,180 | $18.35 |
| Parts Salesperson | $44,260 | $21.28 |
| Gambling Change Persons and Booth Cashiers | $36,160 | $17.38 |
| Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | $70,710 | $34.00 |
| 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 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | $100,760 | $48.44 |
| Insurance Sales Agent | $69,240 | $33.29 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products | $112,150 | $53.92 |
| Real Estate Sales Agent | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $91,070 | $43.79 |
| Advertising Sales Agent | $75,590 | $36.34 |
| 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 41-2031. 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 retail salesperson make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for retail salespersons in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,820 a year, or $17.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,580 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid retail salespersons make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of retail salespersons in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $48,580 a year. The top 25% earn $38,380 or more.
What is the starting pay for retail salespersons in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of retail salespersons earn $33,800 or less.
How many retail salespersons work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 96,950 retail salespersons are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.