Cost of hiring an office manager in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN
Chicago-Naperville is the most expensive place in Illinois to hire an office manager. The median is $71,730 a year[1], 3.9% above the Illinois statewide median of $69,010 and 3.2% above the US median of $69,500. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#81 of 519). It is the largest market for the job in Illinois: about 33,180 people.
BLS occupation 43-1011, 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 | $47,650 | $71,730 | $106,060 | |
| Illinois | $46,780 | $69,010 | $103,770 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
Office managers at the 90th percentile earn $106,060, 2.2 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.3. The middle half of office managers in Chicago-Naperville earns $58,170–$86,760.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47,650 | $3,971 | $22.91 | $68,071 |
| 25th percentile | $58,170 | $4,848 | $27.97 | $83,100 |
| Median | $71,730 | $5,978 | $34.49 | $102,471 |
| 75th percentile | $86,760 | $7,230 | $41.71 | $123,943 |
| 90th percentile | $106,060 | $8,838 | $50.99 | $151,514 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $15,030 a year in pay and about $21,471 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $13,560 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
At the $71,730 median, a local hire costs about $102,471 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $30,741 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 office managers 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 #6 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $105,320 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $38,060.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +46.8% | 21,040 | |
| Accountant | +14.8% | 41,360 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +12.1% | 30,970 | |
| Recruiter | +9.0% | 26,470 | |
| Executive Assistant | +8.4% | 10,620 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 33,180 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -1.4% | 55,730 | |
| Paralegal | -1.6% | 11,590 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -12.3% | 4,170 | |
| Bookkeeper | -28.3% | 35,660 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -29.7% | 50,190 | |
| HR Assistant | -30.9% | 2,920 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -33.2% | 2,970 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -33.5% | 20,020 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -34.3% | 75,240 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -37.8% | 4,270 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -46.9% | 30,540 |
Other areas in Illinois
Across the 11 areas of Illinois with data for this job, the median runs from $57,630 in the South Illinois nonmetro area to $71,730 in Chicago-Naperville, a gap of $14,100 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Chicago-Naperville | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN | this area | 33,180 | |
| Peoria, IL | -6.9% | 830 | |
| Rockford, IL | -8.4% | 750 | |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | -11.0% | 500 | |
| Springfield, IL | -11.8% | 620 | |
| Northwest Illinois (Nonmetro) | -12.1% | 800 | |
| East Central Illinois (Nonmetro) | -13.0% | 800 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN?
About $102,471 a year at the median, or $8,539 a month: $71,730 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 office managers in Chicago-Naperville?
The median was $71,730 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,650, the 90th $106,060, and the middle half earned $58,170 to $86,760.
Is Chicago-Naperville the most expensive area in Illinois for office managers?
Yes. Its median of $71,730 is the highest of 11 areas in Illinois. Peoria comes next at $66,750.
How many office managers work in Chicago-Naperville?
BLS counts about 33,180 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an office manager cost more than a sales development representative in Chicago-Naperville?
Yes: $1,020 a year more at the median. The medians are $71,730 and $70,710.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes431011.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.