Accountants and Auditors, Chicago

$82,360

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Middle half of wages roughly $72,280 to $103,120.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median
−1.6%
US median
$83,680
Metro RPP
103.6
Middle half
$72,280 to $103,120
OEWS employment
41,360
SOC
13-2011

Accountants and Auditors in Chicago pay a median $82,360 (May 2025), 1.6% below the US median of $83,680. At local prices (RPP 103.6), that median buys about what $79,498 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$82,360 in Chicago buys about what $79,498 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 103.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 112 vs all-items 103.6 (US = 100, 2024).

Accountants and Auditors in nearby metros

Metro Median Middle half RPP
Chicago $82,360 $72,280 to $103,120 103.6
Phoenix $80,820 $66,340 to $105,640 103.3
San Francisco $110,730 $88,820 to $143,590 115.6
Tulsa $81,320 $63,920 to $104,240 89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in Chicago?
According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $82,360.
How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Accountants and Auditors?
Local median pay is 1.6% below the national OEWS median of $83,680.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?
BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $82,360 has about the same purchasing power as $79,498 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?
Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

  • BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
  • BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
  • Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

  • Federal, state, or local income taxes
  • Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
  • Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.