HR specialist pay in Chicago, IL
HR specialists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a typical $78,210 a year. The middle half earn $61,470 to $100,550, and the top 10% earn more than $125,220. About 26,470 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Human Resources Specialists, SOC 13-1071).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $49,580 |
| 25th percentile | $61,470 |
| Median (typical) | $78,210 |
| 75th percentile | $100,550 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $125,220 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 17 of 50 large metros for HR specialists before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $78,210, a single filer keeps about $60,100 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax. Prices in Chicago are 4% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $58,000 would in a typical US city. That ranks Chicago No. 30 of 50 large metros for HR specialists after cost of living.
Where HR specialists’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$112,140 typical · worth $73.8k
- Washington, DC$100,830 typical · worth $68.1k
- Seattle, WA$92,770 typical · worth $66.7k
- San Francisco, CA$103,140 typical · worth $65.8k
All 50 metros for HR specialists →
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among HR specialists in Chicago. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 1 employer here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a hr specialist make in Chicago, IL?
The typical (median) hr specialist in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earns $78,210 a year. The middle half earn between $61,470 and $100,550, and the top 10% earn more than $125,220. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a hr specialist in Chicago?
Anything above $78,210 pays more than half of HR specialists in Chicago. $100,550 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $125,220 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a hr specialist in Chicago take home after taxes?
At the typical $78,210, a single filer keeps about $60,100 a year ($5,010 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois state income tax. With local prices 4% above the US average, that buys what $58,000 would in a typical US city.
Where do HR specialists get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical hr specialist pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Washington, DC, Seattle, WA. Chicago, IL ranks No. 30.
More: HR specialist pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Chicago, IL
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.