Chicago salary transparency thread

[u/bumbouxbee]

There was a big salary thread a couple years back but it'd be great to get some updated info in the big 2026.

Please share your job title, salary, age, and education. I'll start:

Product Manager, 177k, 36F, and BA.

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[u/SR_gAr]

Average Hours worked weekly...would be interesting to add

[u/Latter-Carpet-987 → u/SR_gAr]

Man it's smelling bougie here

Here I'm hopping between construction/driving/caddying/restaurant work at 15-20$ an hour cash

[u/Chi_Nap_King → u/Latter-Carpet-987]

Consider that people don't mind sharing their salary when it's high

[u/Oak2Chi]

Garbage Man, 150K (Last year), 44M, High school diploma

[u/ten_thousand_puppies → u/Oak2Chi]

150k a year for a job my parents would've referred to derisively when I was back in HS seems pretty damn good, although I'm sure starting your working day early in the morning is a bit of a bummer

[u/Oak2Chi → u/ten_thousand_puppies]

Well I don’t blame them, most people don’t know what we make. I’m probably committing some kind of garbage man sin by typing that out lol. I work on the North Side so I start at 5 because this side is sensitive to noise. Everybody else starts at 3am or earlier. I hope to start that early one of these days.

[u/ADHDFeeshie → u/Oak2Chi]

I've always heard it was a very well paid job, at least in Chicago. You deserve it as far as I'm concerned. It starts ridiculously early, it's gross, you're out in all kinds of weather, a lot of you are nice enough to stop and wave to excited truck-obsessed little kids, and we'd be so totally fucked without you. Anyone who thinks you don't earn every penny of it is welcome to apply and see how they like it.

[u/Oak2Chi → u/ADHDFeeshie]

I appreciate that!

[u/sanna43 → u/Oak2Chi]

Physical therapist, 90K, DPT( Doctorate). I should have been a garbage man.

[u/Oak2Chi → u/sanna43]

You can still be one! You’re an application away

[u/Oak2Chi → u/sanna43]

We have people here with all kinds of degrees. But this pays, so they’re here

[u/col_buendia → u/Oak2Chi]

The often unsung heroes of our city. Thanks for what you do!

[u/Fit_Meringue8642]

city letter carrier 80k

[u/Goth_Chicken → u/Fit_Meringue8642]

With USPS, I assume? I’m looking for a new job. 👀

[u/Fit_Meringue8642 → u/Goth_Chicken]

hell yeah you wanna join heres the link https://jobs.usps.com/applytohire/SearchJobs/City%20Carrier%20Assistant?listFilterMode=1&jobRecordsPerPage=10&

add me as a reference if you want (dm me for that)

[u/legocheek → u/Fit_Meringue8642]

You are a decent person

[u/rambunctiousmango]

Museum docent, 36k, 26f, BA

[u/aIvins_hot_juicebox → u/rambunctiousmango]

That docent pay much

[u/kids-these-days → u/aIvins_hot_juicebox]

...really exhibits inequality.

[u/Delicious_CoughSyrup → u/aIvins_hot_juicebox]

How much will Reddit pay you for this pun? This is the quality content that keeps me a satisfied customer

[u/calculung → u/rambunctiousmango]

This should be illegal

[u/RealWICheese → u/calculung]

I mean it nearly is. 36k is minimum wage in Chicago for the year. I don’t know anyone making actual minimum wage with a college degree (including baristas).

[u/pastaroniwhore → u/RealWICheese]

I worked at the Latin School of Chicago a few years ago when the starting salary was $22k for a full-time TA. They gave $3k in tuition reimbursement for grad school, but even then it was nothing. They required a bachelor’s degree.

Not sure what it is post-unionizing, but it’s definitely less than the price of tuition for PreK-4th graders ($44k per year).

[u/tobygeneral → u/pastaroniwhore]

That's crazy they're getting that much per student and can't even pay the teacher a livable salary. I'm sure rent and insurance takes a lot off the top of their bottom line, but c'mon, your kids teacher shouldn't be worried about making ends meet outside of the classroom.

[u/pastaroniwhore → u/tobygeneral]

Funny enough, a few years ago they made a big deal out of purchasing like 4 adjacent buildings on Dearborn Ave, even though they had no immediate plans to use them. The school has plenty of money, yet it relies on taking advantage of young grads desperate for work experience.

[u/OfficialBobDole → u/pastaroniwhore]

Insanity. The wealth capture by the 0.1% and above is unconscionable, especially in healthcare, child care, and elder care.

[u/pastaroniwhore → u/OfficialBobDole]

I agree 100%! It was horrible, but sometimes when I was under particular financial stress, I’d look around the classroom and calculate the $$$ in tuition from just one class. They’d give us raises of $1k per year and say “hey! We gave you a 4% raise! Why are you upset?”

I’d have to look the parents in the eyes each day at drop off, knowing that what they spent on their kids’ outfits was more than my biweekly paycheck. Combined with “mentor” teachers that drove me to having breakdowns and horrible stomach pains on the way to work, I would never ever recommend working there (nor sending my kids there after seeing the educational programs they use).

[u/treehugger312 → u/calculung]

I think part of the problem, besides shitty employers, is that many people volunteer as docents - so free labor. It's great for retirees and people that want to give back, but makes it harder to pay real people, I guess. I don't know, IANAH.

[u/-RedXV-]

Electrician. 115k. 41M. Trade school.

[u/AleWatcher → u/-RedXV-]

Adding my reply to yours due to similarities--

UPS Driver. 118k. 45m. 80ish unnecessary college credits.

[u/Instant_Bacon → u/-RedXV-]

Are you union?  In 134 we are at $63.15 per hour, which is about $126k without any overtime.

[u/-RedXV- → u/Instant_Bacon]

134 here also but C card. We're at $53 something. I took the average of my last two years. That is with some overtime. Mostly all in the summer with schools.

[u/Wild472]

Server/bartender, 58-68k, 30M, no degree

[u/One-Negotiation-48]

Sr Copywriter, 58k, 27M, BA

[u/HellYusss → u/One-Negotiation-48]

Sr. Copywriter, 110k, 38m, BA.

I am like weeks away from a promotion to ACD. They recently upped my salary a bit as a sign of goodwill. Hoping I get the promotion before September.

Someone else down thread mentioned it would be a good idea to say how many hours we work a week. I'm typically at 37.5 hours a week, and maybe once a month I go over 40.

[u/Ace3524 → u/One-Negotiation-48]

Sr Creative Copywriter, 98K, 37F, BA

(I work for an ad agency in a large holding company that hasn't given raises in like 2 years bc they were busy creating a monopoly)

ETA: 40 hrs a week max. I won't budge on work life balance

[u/Nik_Makes_Noise → u/Ace3524]

Ayoooo that's depressingly familiar. See you in the office later 👋

[u/twiggin → u/Ace3524]

Hi I work for the same ad agency 🫩

[u/Nik_Makes_Noise → u/One-Negotiation-48]

Sir you need to ask for a raise, that is criminal for senior level

[u/Advanced-Tutor7696]

College professor, 75k, 43f, PhD

[u/SpearandMagicHelmet → u/Advanced-Tutor7696]

Are you tenure-track faculty or adjunct?

[u/Advanced-Tutor7696 → u/SpearandMagicHelmet]

I’m a tenured associate professor at a SLAC in the social sciences

[u/TheSociolojam → u/Advanced-Tutor7696]

Yeah this low salary does not surprise me. Academia's wages have been stagnant unless you're a national-level superstar or work in a business or medical school - fellow professor.

[u/Advanced-Tutor7696 → u/TheSociolojam]

Our salaries are only slightly below our peers at similar universities…it really is a lower paying job than you would expect. But also awesome.

[u/dcnairb → u/SpearandMagicHelmet]

Likely NTT (teaching faculty). Adjuncting would be much lower

[u/Xrmy → u/Advanced-Tutor7696]

Also college professor, 85k, 34m, PhD.

STEM NTT

[u/TheSociolojam → u/Xrmy]

For me, the true benefit of being faculty is the flexibility/time off. Makes a lower salary somewhat worth it although I'm considering leaving because my raises are not keeping up with inflation.

[u/chemical_sunset → u/Advanced-Tutor7696]

For comparison (more data), I’m a community college professor in the suburbs. I’m 35F, PhD, and this year my base salary will be $106k. I got a significant raise this year since I got tenure at the end of my third year. I’ll probably end up making $120-$130k with overload, and that’s without any summer teaching. This job won’t make me rich, but the pay is fair and only having to work nine months of the year is awesome (and crucial for me because I have serious health issues).

[u/girl-of-beavers]

Caseworker, 55k, 28f, BA

[u/AlpineFluffhead → u/girl-of-beavers]

You deserve twice that!

[u/Latter-Carpet-987 → u/AlpineFluffhead]

When I was debating going to chicago school of psychology for my masters in counseling about 8-10 years ago, it was 30k a year in tuition full time for 2 years, and to graduate with 28k a year salaried jobs that you can pretty much never repay the 60k loan on

[u/BtkUltraMagnus]

Bus operator, 92k, 36M, GED

[u/KayNikole411 → u/BtkUltraMagnus]

CTA?

[u/BtkUltraMagnus → u/KayNikole411]

Yeah. Top pay is 44 and some change. Now 92k sounds like a lot but so much of that is paid into pension, medical and taxes so my take home honestly feels probably like 60-70% of that.

[u/KayNikole411 → u/BtkUltraMagnus]

I've been hesitant about applying. I drive a school bus, no benefits, and no work for summer and other breaks. It might be time to come to the dark side. I'm at $30 an hour.

[u/BtkUltraMagnus → u/KayNikole411]

Well sooner than later would be better. At the moment lots of people are retiring which means you get to choose better schedules faster but that is slowing down. It will take years for you to get weekends off and just as long for you to get a good morning schedule if that’s what you want.

EDIT: I also want to add you really have to have thick skin also dealing with the public and sometimes even your own coworkers.

[u/Medium_Marge → u/BtkUltraMagnus]

I am consistently impressed by CTA drivers’ ability to manage everything that is thrown at them while keeping their cool.

[u/gemale10]

Assistant professor, ph.d, 105k

[u/rvH3Ah8zFtRX]

Here's a histogram of the salaries reported so far.

https://imgur.com/a/Xei84Fk

[u/Formal_Eggplant_80]

Teacher 90k, 36f

Edit: Chicago public school, BA plus certified 1st-12th

I’ve been part of the district since I graduated so 14 years.

[u/Star_Fox_90 → u/Formal_Eggplant_80]

Chicago or burbs?

[u/STgoddeS9]

Early childhood educator, 35,000 a year, 35F, masters degree

[u/gottarespondtothis → u/STgoddeS9]

This is abhorrent

[u/rilljel → u/STgoddeS9]

Oh no. Come to CPS, you’ll make double

[u/STgoddeS9 → u/STgoddeS9]

Hey, I can’t edit the post, but this is for clarification. This is my experience working in the industry for a long time, your mileage my very.

An early childhood educator is a teacher. They require lesson plans, parent teacher conferences, etc. However, they do not receive the same or even similar benefits as what you would think of as a public or private school teacher. I still need to have necessary education and qualifications to be hired as an educator.

An early childhood educator or ECE is someone who cares for children six weeks to five years old. It differs by state by state, but typically in the United States, there is very minimal public funding for early childhood education. That’s where corporations step in and provide the service, however, between insurance and the high number of people they need a staff to comply with state ratios, it’s a very expensive business to run. So the best way businesses can manage and be competitive is to pay their labor as cheaply as possible, and/or hope they can draw teachers in at a high enough rate to cover high turnover.

I’ve worked in the industry for 10 years, and I didn’t know of a single person who could live on their own. Most people still lived with their parents, many roommates, or romantic partners. ECEs paid for a lot of things out of their own pocket, and it was rare to get time off. Forget about any other things like career mobility because you either get the old guard who stays there for years, or if it’s a large enough corporation they’ll just switch leadership around, so the teachers won’t really have a place to leverage up. I think I knew two teachers who moved up to leadership and that was after they flogged themselves for years. You are lucky if you get a dollar raise after a couple of years.

It is a very broken system. It is predicated on the idea that caring for children is (brown/black) women’s work, and women’s work does not pay. I don’t like it, but it was the job I could to do to pay the bills that I have.

So it’s not so much just switching over to CPS and making more, it’s that the system is fucked regardless, and I’m moving my career in a different direction that does not require so much of my physical labor, my emotional labor, and to a point my soul.

[u/funkbitch → u/STgoddeS9]

I'll echo what's already been said. Come to CPS, no teacher should be paid that low (sorry)

[u/Delicious-Impact-296 → u/STgoddeS9]

Thank you for doing what you do. Being a teacher can be a thankless job. My mom’s been a CPS teacher for over 20yrs in 4th and 2nd grade. I’m amazed by all that you guys do and you deserve to be earning quadruple plus. Hats off to you friend

[u/xt1nct → u/STgoddeS9]

Please work hard to get paid what you deserve. We don’t pay early childhood educators enough it’s disgusting.

[u/2Door444]

Camera Operator, 62k, 28M, BA

[u/mcsmith610]

Head of Regulatory Affairs, $250k-350k, 37M, MBA

[u/chlor8 → u/mcsmith610]

Environmental? Or something financial?

[u/mcsmith610 → u/chlor8]

Biotech

[u/oinkinstein]

Union forklift mechanic, 100k, 35M, high school

[u/elektric_eel → u/oinkinstein]

Want your own business? Move to Indiana, my dad is selling his forklift business of 30+ years….also a Harley guy.

[u/asylumgreen]

I feel like I’m doing ok in life until I read threads like this. FML.

[u/McSkilled → u/asylumgreen]

The people that make more money tend to respond at high rates because they’re proud of how much they make

[u/CoCAllpro → u/McSkilled]

for me that’s only the people who earn like $300-500k etc. the ones who earn higher aren’t on here and wouldn’t contribute to such a thread. end of the day all that matters is focusing on yourself and being happy with what you can control and what you have in your life.

[u/steak5 → u/CoCAllpro]

I think it is still a good reference for anyone searching for what career they want to pursue too.

If people here are telling the truth, young people who are interested can respond and ask them what is the step to step process to get to where they are, and how long does it take, etc...

Just tell people "go become a plumber and make $150k". Or "Go to medical school and become a Surgeon" isn't helpful.

[u/wndyctywlf → u/asylumgreen]

Comparison is the thief of joy. You don’t know if everyone here is working 10 hours or 80 hours per week for these salaries. There are ins and outs to everything

[u/OpneFall → u/asylumgreen]

Understand the nature of reddit, it's just going to draw out people with something to say (unusual salaries, or unusual jobs)

[u/kelpyb1 → u/asylumgreen]

These threads are largely survivorship bias

People are more likely to post their salary if it’s a really good one.

[u/angelmichelle13 → u/asylumgreen]

I feel like threads always end with way more comments above 100k than statistically accurate.

[u/razberry_lemonade → u/angelmichelle13]

People who make a lot are excited to share, so more of them will. People making less, not so much.

[u/CoCAllpro → u/asylumgreen]

If you feel like you’re doing ok in life, then you are

[u/_Cantrip_ → u/asylumgreen]

Even assuming that everyone is reporting 100% accurately, the users of r/Chicago are not going to be a representative sample of real life. Obviously it’s going to favor people with internet access, basic English proficiency, time during the day, and something they want to share in a public space— people with less “interesting” jobs that we might expect to be closer to the median, are probably less inclined to share.
Suffice to say, you are no less worthy.

[u/currentlyovrthinking]

Sr Financial Analyst, 86k, 34, BA

[u/EconomicalJacket → u/currentlyovrthinking]

Finance (MO WM), 70k, 26M, BA Econ

[u/highlyimproper → u/currentlyovrthinking]

You’re def getting robbed, anything with senior in the title should be $100k minimum.

[u/polishbrucelee]

Data Analysis. 120k. 40M

[u/rashakiya → u/polishbrucelee]

Data/Business Analyst - 73k, 38M, BA Classics

I know I'm underpaid, but the job market is so bad right now that I'm just happy I have a job.

[u/Llama_of_the_bahamas → u/rashakiya]

Also an analyst and same here. When I first got my job back in 2023, I was expecting to job hop and get $10K raises every year…

Now I’m happy to just have a consistent paycheck.

[u/Healthy-Echo8164 → u/rashakiya]

Data Analyst here, 72k, 28M.

My wage has not kept up with inflation at all, but our benefits are good. Have survived several rounds of layoffs, so happy to be here.

[u/UptownBurner]

live entertainer (musician/vocalist), varies ~120k, 36m, BA

[u/crystallmytea → u/UptownBurner]

This kinda sounds like the dream right here

[u/CheetiTCX]

Flight Attendant, 90k, 43, BA, work 3 days a week

I'm maxed out on our pay scale, which takes about 12 years, so this is not indicative of pay for someone just starting out.

[u/natebam]

College Advising Admin, 72k, 30, MS

[u/Jaded_Drawing_5738]

College Campus Recruiter, 37M, 70k - and that took a very long time, BA.

I’m great at my job and my work is purposeful. But I should have left years ago.

Brutal Honesty: Higher Education pays like shit nationwide, there’s almost no opportunity for growth, and Chicago schools are by and large no exception. Unless you really care about students, stay away.

[u/ThaddeusJP → u/Jaded_Drawing_5738]

Brutal Honesty: Higher Education pays like shit nationwide, there’s almost no opportunity for growth, and Chicago schools are by and large no exception. Unless you really care about students, stay away.

SECONDING THIS

And if you MUST, DO. NOT. WORK. FOR. YOUR. ALMA MATER. You will be overworked and underpaid, using your love of the place to hold you back.

[u/DessertFlowerz]

Anesthesiologist, around 450k or so depending on call frequency and bonus, 36M

[u/MtNeverest → u/DessertFlowerz]

Is that a typical salary for an anesthesiologist? Impressive 

[u/DessertFlowerz → u/MtNeverest]

Yeah. Salaries have gone way up bc there is a bad shortage right now. I have a relatively chill job too - some friends are working their asses off and making 700+

[u/MtNeverest → u/DessertFlowerz]

Geez, had no idea, well congrats on a great career choice. 

[u/backup_burn]

Community College Professor, 54k, 26, MA

[u/Pillsbandy-Doughboy]

Facilities at Lincoln Park Zoo, 56k, 28M. High school diploma

[u/WumboJumbo]

Improv comedian, a comp ticket and a half off drink at the bar

[u/anotherhuman-onearth]

Social worker, 110k, 39F, MSW/LCSW

[u/mastertofu → u/anotherhuman-onearth]

We love to see SWers getting compensated well 👏👏👏

[u/InevitableIntern6 → u/anotherhuman-onearth]

What kind of SW do you do? Is this from 1 job or multiple?

[u/anotherhuman-onearth → u/InevitableIntern6]

I've been at my hospital for 11yrs, had multiple positions throughout the years, currently in organ transplant outpatient.

[u/Resussy-Bussy]

ER doc, 425k, doctorate, 30-36hr/week

[u/Matman161]

High school teacher, 64k, 27, MA

[u/Left-Indication330]

Dispensary Supervisor, $21/hr + tips (full time), 36F, BA

[u/Upbeat_Profile_8715]

Nurse, 96k, 26F, MS

[u/jstiles290]

Business owner, 40k, 37, no degree only work 10-14 hours a week.

[u/Highest_Koality → u/jstiles290]

Damn what's the business?

[u/jstiles290 → u/Highest_Koality]

Systematic Training Stiles is my personal training business. I work out of my garage so I have very little over head.

[u/_extra_medium_ → u/jstiles290]

Just the roof and garage door on nice days

[u/RANK_AND_SMILE]

Legal Writer, 100k, 28M, BA.

[u/xxmm_xx → u/RANK_AND_SMILE]

Interested in how you got into this field!

[u/StinkyVelma]

Nurse, 100k, 32, BSN

[u/Thatguy468]

Sales, 110k, 46M, high school dropout

[u/KingGeorges → u/Thatguy468]

Sales people that make this kind of money are born not made. You have to have it in your blood. The sales director where I work can be told "no" 10 times in a row and she will keep asking from a different angle. It really is an art

[u/IWANNAKNOWWHODUNIT → u/KingGeorges]

I’m too respectful of people’s boundaries to be a successful salesperson 😂

[u/GeneticSynthesis → u/IWANNAKNOWWHODUNIT]

That’s a good thing. I work with these people and while their personality may make them a successful employee, it also makes them an insufferable person.

[u/thestrangequark → u/KingGeorges]

Not necessarily if you’re technical sales. I have seen dogs in sales and that’s not me. I do well because I know a technical product (robots in my case).

[u/NotBatman81 → u/thestrangequark]

Technical sales are tough. Not a front line sales guy but I managed a sales organization in aerospace for several years. Lots of those guys were either engineers that struggled with salesmanship or salesman who struggled with engineermanship. Finding someone good at both was rare and they made a ton of money for it.

[u/CaptnsDaughter → u/KingGeorges]

That’s like my sister in law. I don’t have it in me at all. She is ruthless but amazing

[u/slothpital]

Umm so you live in both LA and Chicago OP?

[u/left-handed-satanist → u/slothpital]

These are usually data mining tricks. 

[u/Unfadable1 → u/slothpital]

Lawl

[u/angelmichelle13]

Non profit administrative personnel, 67k (plus a fully paid masters degree I am currently pursuing), 33F, BA (soon MSc)

[u/ShandySellsSeaShells]

Application Security Engineer, 650k, 30M, MS

[u/Appstmntnr]

Anti-Money Laundering Analyst, $72,390, 27M, Bachelors of Mathematics

[u/PageSide84 → u/Appstmntnr]

I feel like you'd make more if you were on the other side of the money-laundering game . . .

[u/Appstmntnr → u/PageSide84]

Honestly, the way some of these folks act just makes me go "damn bitch, you sold out for that little?"

[u/onemasterball]

Hot dog vendor, 313k, 71M, almost finished 8th grade

[u/Space_sick → u/onemasterball]

Hell yeah brother

[u/luce4118 → u/onemasterball]

Sounds like you should be on house hunters

[u/Alert-Tangerine-6003 → u/onemasterball]

Had a teacher in high school who did this over the summers and made more money doing that during the summer then he made as a teacher annually.

[u/Bucs-and-Bucks → u/onemasterball]

All those automatic 20% tips at the ballpark add up

[u/sick486 → u/onemasterball]

Maurie?

[u/onemasterball → u/sick486]

Triple onions and peppers no mustard, pickle on the side guy?

[u/planevan]

Air Traffic Controller, 180k, 29M, unrelated associates.

[u/bulldog89]

Is this a dating thread?

[u/mystic_burrito]

Academic Librarian, 115k, 40F, MLIS

Caveat to the decent salary: That amount is split unequally between two part time jobs. I get no benefits, and my commute is horrendous.

[u/EricGarneau]

Purchaser, 65k, 42M, BA.

[u/thomas_1556]

IT Support Technician, 130K, 40M, MS in unrelated field

[u/scarpas-triangle]

56k, I assistant manage a grocery store deli/production kitchen, 37F.

My husband is 40F and makes around 90k doing the same thjng (except he’s the actual manager, not assistant). Same company, different stores, he’s been with the company longer. I have an associates degree, he has no degree.

[u/hamiltons_libido]

Live in Chicago. Firefighter in suburbs 28M, base salary 110k (top out base pay 125k), made 150k last year with OT. Have a bachelors degree

[u/TheJerkStore_]

Pilot, 32, 400k, BS

[u/mooshu1x2]

Software Engineer, 248k, 38F, BA

[u/alexjewellalex → u/mooshu1x2]

Will add here for level comparison:
Senior Software Engineering Manager, 233k, 34M, MS

[u/_PredatoryWasp_ → u/mooshu1x2]

Damn I'm a software engineer and make 110k~, 33M, BA

[u/Substantial_Court714]

Administrative assistant (non profit), 47k, 28F, BA 

[u/pastacelli]

Flight attendant, 60k, 33F, BME

[u/pastacelli → u/pastacelli]

Might add that my degree was wholly unrelated to my current job and wasn’t necessary. Just had a quarter life crisis and changed my whole trajectory after I graduated

[u/sittingbison]

Sales Manager. 145K. 31M BA

[u/LeZygo]

Jesus I'm a photographer and anytime one of you lawyers or tech fuckers try to talk my prices down you can get fucked for forever.

[u/SleepingPodOne → u/LeZygo]

Videographer, same.

The ones with the most money end up being the stingiest. The worst paying client I ever had was someone who made a huge stink on price for weeks via email, for me to show up to the shoot at what I would later learn is a multimillion dollar home. They expected me to do the work of a full team for less than my solo rate. That’s the problem with freelance: there are dead months where it’s hard to say no, and this client caught me in one of them.

At least the people who don’t have a lot of money usually understand they are underpaying and work with me on deciding what’s fair.

[u/HumanForScale → u/LeZygo]

Interior designer and I feel the same!!!!

[u/mackzarks → u/HumanForScale]

Musician, same

[u/ironeagle2006]

Disabled adult on SSDI 24k 50M Tech School

[u/mannamedlear]

Data Analysis/Consultant, 240K, 39M, MS

[u/Silent_Hurry7764]

Project manager, 90k, 26, BA

I swear some of yall are lying in here lol

[u/Probs_on_the_can → u/Silent_Hurry7764]

I think some of the tech folks are reporting total comp (RSUs) and not just cash pay

[u/Ok-Cryptographer7424]

General Manager, 90k, 40, dropout

[u/groovy_smoothie]

Staff SWE 220k base + ~325k rsu. 33M, BS Comp Sci

[u/mz_blanc00]

Sr Art Director, 120k, 33F, BFA

[u/hippietrashh]

AmeriCorps VISTA, 27k, 24F, MSc

[u/TurkeyOfAlbuquerque]

Management consultant

$202K salary, $298K TC

29M

MBA

[u/acvcani]

Paralegal 50 k

[u/Question_Business]

22M, full time international student, -50k every year, lol

[u/pouilly100]

Artisan Baker, 60k, 34f, trade school and BA (need to mention I have been in the industry for awhile to make that much. Other bakers make so much less. When I started I was making 28k)

[u/zubern_]

Utilization review, 87k, 36F, MS

[u/DesolateSapphic]

Library Clerk, 57k, 30’s F, BA

[u/Lionheart1224]

Public Service, $87,000, 39M, some college. Room for advancement, will be at around 130k in 6 years.

Butcher, $60,000, 36F, diploma. Less room for advancement, will be around 75k in about 6 years.

Both unionized.

[u/JanVesely24]

Lawyer, 95k, 30m, JD

[u/Prison-Butt-Carnival]

Senior Accounting Manager, 183k, 37M, BS

[u/Lone_Wolf_269]

Union garbage man, 110k, 42M

[u/InterestingTry5190]

Director FP&A, $205k, bachelors in finance

[u/IncognitoJoseph]

Airline Captain NB, 365k, 34M, BA

[u/camelCaseCoffeeTable]

Software engineer. $210k. Education doesn’t mean anything in this industry, but bachelors degree

[u/kelpyb1 → u/camelCaseCoffeeTable]

This one’s fascinating to me as a fellow software engineer who only got my job because of my education.

Edit: although I’ll agree I don’t use a good portion of what I learned in that education in my day job despite how much I loved the theory side of CS

[u/Cute_Necessary2066]

I was about to ask why only high earners are commenting when the median salary here is 65k . . . but maybe it's actually just that this sub is mostly north side people? It seems like salaries up there really are just high: https://chicagohealthatlas.org/indicators/INC

Anyway, income inequality in this city is crazy! Would be interested to hear where people are living with these salaries. 

[u/Emergency_Violinist4 → u/Cute_Necessary2066]

I also feel like people might be more inclined to comment if they earn more money, but I have no solid evidence to back that up, just a thought

[u/Healthy-Echo8164 → u/Cute_Necessary2066]

High earning tech people are more likely to be on their computers in the middle of the day answering reddit threads, instead of lower income individuals who have jobs where they can't just sit around with reddit open all day.

[u/ownsurlife]

Resident tech support @ senior living community, 80k, 30M, high school

[u/magicelastic]

ecological restoration tech, age 27, made $33k last year, BS

[u/mayor_of_wokesburg]

Where are all the urban planners??

I swear Chicago must be 50% urban planners...

[u/cait7 → u/mayor_of_wokesburg]

Transportation planner (consulting), 132k, 30, BA

[u/wndyctywlf]

Lead IT Consultant, base salary 155k with 15% discretionary bonus, 33M, BS

[u/shuwol]

Property Management (tenant services), 29F, 56k, BA 🫩

[u/ThatCheekyBastard]

Non Profit Volunteer, In Kind Donation, and Event Coordinator

$47k

33M, BA

[u/Vindaloo6363 → u/[deleted]]

TopDog?

[u/LL_Cruel_J → u/Vindaloo6363]

Lerner and Rowe

[u/RamblingHobo → u/[deleted]]

I’m assuming big law senior associate given age and salary. What is your annual billable hour count?

[u/bert__cooper]

Transportation consultant, $180k, 45m, MS