Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
Chicago-Naperville is the most expensive place in Illinois to hire a marketing specialist. The median is $80,400 a year[1], 1.6% above the Illinois statewide median of $79,120 and 2.1% above the US median of $78,760. Only 27 of 516 US areas pay more for this job. With about 30,970 marketing specialists, no area in Illinois employs more.
BLS occupation 13-1161, 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 | $49,910 | $80,400 | $140,260 | |
| Illinois | $46,970 | $79,120 | $139,110 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Chicago-Naperville earns $62,160–$105,710. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $140,260, only 2.8 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($90,330) 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 a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,910 | $4,159 | $24.00 | $71,300 |
| 25th percentile | $62,160 | $5,180 | $29.88 | $88,800 |
| Median | $80,400 | $6,700 | $38.65 | $114,857 |
| 75th percentile | $105,710 | $8,809 | $50.82 | $151,014 |
| 90th percentile | $140,260 | $11,688 | $67.43 | $200,371 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $25,310 a year in pay and about $36,157 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $18,240 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 $34,457 to the $80,400 median and brings it to $114,857 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 marketing specialists 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 #3 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,320 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,060.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +31.0% | 21,040 | |
| Accountant | +2.4% | 41,360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 30,970 | |
| Recruiter | -2.7% | 26,470 | |
| Executive Assistant | -3.3% | 10,620 | |
| Office Manager | -10.8% | 33,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -12.1% | 55,730 | |
| Paralegal | -12.3% | 11,590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -21.7% | 4,170 | |
| Bookkeeper | -36.0% | 35,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -37.3% | 50,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -38.3% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -40.4% | 2,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -40.7% | 20,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -41.4% | 75,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -44.5% | 4,270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -52.7% | 30,540 |
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 11 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $44,860 in the West Central Illinois nonmetro area to $80,400 in Chicago-Naperville, a gap of $35,540 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Chicago-Naperville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | this area | 30,970 | |
| Peoria, IL | -2.1% | 1,080 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | -11.2% | 410 | |
| Decatur, IL | -15.3% | 140 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -18.1% | 380 | |
| Springfield, IL | -19.0% | 410 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | -22.7% | 420 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN?
About $114,857 a year at the median, or $9,571 a month: $80,400 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 do marketing specialists earn in Chicago-Naperville?
The median was $80,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $49,910, the 90th $140,260, and the middle half earned $62,160 to $105,710.
Is Chicago-Naperville the most expensive area in Illinois for marketing specialists?
Yes. Its median of $80,400 is the highest of 11 areas in Illinois. Peoria comes next at $78,700.
How many marketing specialists work in Chicago-Naperville?
BLS counts about 30,970 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a recruiter in Chicago-Naperville?
Yes: $2,190 a year more at the median. The medians are $80,400 and $78,210.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.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 2026-11-06.