Cost of hiring an administrative assistant in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
Budget above the national rate here. The median administrative assistant in Chicago-Naperville earned $50,440 a year in May 2025[1], 4.4% above the Illinois statewide median of $48,310 and 6.1% above the US median of $47,540. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#66 of 520). It is the largest market for the job in Illinois: about 50,190 people.
BLS occupation 43-6014, 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 | $34,300 | $50,440 | $78,820 | |
| Illinois | $31,930 | $48,310 | $76,790 | |
| United States | $33,280 | $47,540 | $66,350 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $78,820 or more, 2.3 times the bottom tenth, against 2.0 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of administrative assistants in Chicago-Naperville earns $42,260–$62,970. The mean ($54,630) is 8% 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 administrative assistant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,300 | $2,858 | $16.49 | $49,000 |
| 25th percentile | $42,260 | $3,522 | $20.32 | $60,371 |
| Median | $50,440 | $4,203 | $24.25 | $72,057 |
| 75th percentile | $62,970 | $5,248 | $30.27 | $89,957 |
| 90th percentile | $78,820 | $6,568 | $37.89 | $112,600 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $8,180 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $12,530, or about $17,900 once benefits are added. 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
At the $50,440 median, a local hire costs about $72,057 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $21,617 here. 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 administrative assistants 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 #11 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,320 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,060.
| Role | Median | vs administrative assistant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +108.8% | 21,040 | |
| Accountant | +63.3% | 41,360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +59.4% | 30,970 | |
| Recruiter | +55.1% | 26,470 | |
| Executive Assistant | +54.2% | 10,620 | |
| Office Manager | +42.2% | 33,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +40.2% | 55,730 | |
| Paralegal | +39.9% | 11,590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +24.7% | 4,170 | |
| Bookkeeper | +2.0% | 35,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | this role | 50,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -1.7% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -5.1% | 2,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -5.5% | 20,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -6.6% | 75,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -11.5% | 4,270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -24.5% | 30,540 |
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 12 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $37,040 in the South Illinois nonmetro area to $51,880 in Bloomington, a gap of $14,840 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Chicago-Naperville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | +2.9% | 930 | |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | this area | 50,190 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -4.3% | 1,220 | |
| Springfield, IL | -5.7% | 1,290 | |
| Peoria, IL | -7.7% | 2,010 | |
| Rockford, IL | -8.5% | 1,360 | |
| Decatur, IL | -9.0% | 500 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an administrative assistant in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN?
About $72,057 a year at the median, or $6,005 a month: $50,440 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 administrative assistants in Chicago-Naperville?
The median was $50,440 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $34,300, the 90th $78,820, and the middle half earned $42,260 to $62,970.
Is Chicago-Naperville cheaper than the rest of Illinois for administrative assistants?
No, it costs more: a median of $50,440 against $48,310 statewide. Bloomington pays the most ($51,880) and the South Illinois nonmetro area the least ($37,040).
How many administrative assistants work in Chicago-Naperville?
BLS counts about 50,190 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an administrative assistant cost more than an HR assistant in Chicago-Naperville?
Yes: $850 a year more at the median. The medians are $50,440 and $49,590.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-6014: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes436014.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.