Cost of hiring an accountant in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
For this job Chicago-Naperville sits between the state and national figures, with a median of $82,360 a year[1]. That is 2.7% above the Illinois statewide median of $80,230, and 1.6% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#90 of 521). It is the largest market for the job in Illinois: about 41,360 people.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Chicago-Naperville against Illinois and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | $59,530 | $82,360 | $134,100 | |
| Illinois | $54,510 | $80,230 | $131,990 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Chicago-Naperville earns $72,280–$103,120. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $134,100, only 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($91,990) is 12% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59,530 | $4,961 | $28.62 | $85,043 |
| 25th percentile | $72,280 | $6,023 | $34.75 | $103,257 |
| Median | $82,360 | $6,863 | $39.60 | $117,657 |
| 75th percentile | $103,120 | $8,593 | $49.58 | $147,314 |
| 90th percentile | $134,100 | $11,175 | $64.47 | $191,571 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $20,760 a year in pay and about $29,657 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $10,080 in pay. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Chicago-Naperville
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $35,297 to the $82,360 median and brings it to $117,657 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Other roles in Chicago-Naperville
Of the 17 roles we track in Chicago-Naperville, this one ranks #2 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,320 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,060.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +27.9% | 21,040 | |
| Accountant | this role | 41,360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -2.4% | 30,970 | |
| Recruiter | -5.0% | 26,470 | |
| Executive Assistant | -5.6% | 10,620 | |
| Office Manager | -12.9% | 33,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -14.1% | 55,730 | |
| Paralegal | -14.3% | 11,590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -23.6% | 4,170 | |
| Bookkeeper | -37.5% | 35,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -38.8% | 50,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -39.8% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -41.9% | 2,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -42.1% | 20,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -42.8% | 75,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -45.8% | 4,270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -53.8% | 30,540 |
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $69,670 in Champaign-Urbana to $86,440 in Springfield, a gap of $16,770 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Chicago-Naperville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, IL | +5.0% | 1,600 | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | this area | 41,360 | |
| Peoria, IL | -3.4% | 1,350 | |
| Decatur, IL | -6.8% | 260 | |
| Bloomington, IL | -7.1% | 750 | |
| Rockford, IL | -8.6% | 850 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | -10.9% | 670 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN?
About $117,657 a year at the median, or $9,805 a month: $82,360 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in Chicago-Naperville?
The median was $82,360 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $59,530, the 90th $134,100, and the middle half earned $72,280 to $103,120.
Is Chicago-Naperville cheaper than the rest of Illinois for accountants?
No, it costs more: a median of $82,360 against $80,230 statewide. Springfield pays the most ($86,440) and Champaign-Urbana the least ($69,670).
How many accountants work in Chicago-Naperville?
BLS counts about 41,360 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in Chicago-Naperville?
Yes: $1,960 a year more at the median. The medians are $82,360 and $80,400.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.