Chicago · Occupational wage benchmark
Human Resources Managers Salary in Chicago
What Human Resources Managers actually earn in the Chicago metro area — the published BLS median, what it is worth after local costs, and how it ranks against other major metros.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2024 estimates (published April 2025)), Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro estimates for SOC 11-3121; cost-of-living adjustment from U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (MARPP) (2024). Occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes.
- Median annual wage
- $156,770
- Human Resources Managers in Chicago
- Adjusted for cost of living
- $151,330
- Chicago price level 103.6 (U.S. = 100)
- Rank among metros
- #15 of 48
- #16 after cost of living
- Workers employed
- 10,810
- in metro Chicago
What Human Resources Managers earn in Chicago, adjusted for what it costs to live there
A headline wage only means something next to local prices. Once local prices are accounted for, Chicago drops 1 place — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
| Metro | Median (nominal) | Adjusted for cost of living |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $220,460 | $199,650 |
| San Francisco | $209,340 | $181,070 |
| New York | $185,100 | $164,441 |
| Boston | $184,990 | $170,866 |
| Washington DC | $177,960 | $163,440 |
| Seattle | $171,360 | $154,194 |
| Denver | $170,940 | $161,596 |
| Los Angeles | $168,400 | $148,284 |
| Providence | $163,290 | $160,445 |
| San Diego | $163,190 | $145,853 |
| Atlanta | $161,250 | $161,157 |
| Minneapolis | $159,390 | $152,058 |
| Charlotte | $158,930 | $163,260 |
| Hartford | $158,180 | $153,952 |
| Chicago | $156,770 | $151,330 |
| Sacramento | $155,360 | $145,645 |
| Philadelphia | $154,490 | $150,643 |
| Richmond | $152,190 | $155,521 |
| Buffalo | $150,180 | $156,692 |
| Detroit | $149,980 | $149,534 |
Nominal medians: BLS OEWS, May 2024 estimates (published April 2025) — occupational wage benchmarks across all workers, not MBA-specific outcomes. Adjusted column: SalaryMBA estimate, computed as nominal ÷ (metro RPP ÷ 100) using BEA MARPP 2024 regional price parities.
The national pay range for Human Resources Managers
BLS publishes the full percentile distribution nationally. The spread within the occupation is usually far wider than the gap between metros.
| Percentile (national) | Annual wage | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $88,200 | Entry / early-career end |
| 25th percentile | $111,110 | |
| Median (50th) | $149,280 | |
| 75th percentile | $199,290 | |
| 90th percentile | $267,810 | Senior / top-market end |
Other MBA-relevant roles in Chicago
How to read the Chicago number
The $156,770 median means half of Human Resources Managers in the Chicago area earn less and half earn more. It is measured across everyone in the occupation — every experience level, industry, and level of education. It is not the salary of a recent MBA graduate, and it is not a starting salary.
BLS counts roughly 10,810 people in this role in the Chicago area. To compare against the state and national picture, see Human Resources Managers nationally or model your own economics with the MBA ROI calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Human Resources Managers make in Chicago?
Human Resources Managers in the Chicago metro area earn a median of $156,770 per year, according to BLS OEWS May 2024 estimates (published April 2025). That is +5.0% vs national, ranking Chicago #15 of 48 major metros we track for this role. This is an occupational wage benchmark across all workers in the metro, not an MBA-graduate-specific salary.
Is $156,770 a good salary in Chicago?
It depends on local prices. The Chicago area price level is 103.6 against a U.S. average of 100, so $156,770 there carries roughly the purchasing power of $151,330 nationally — about $5,440 less than the headline number implies. Once local prices are accounted for, Chicago drops 1 place — a higher headline wage is partly consumed by a higher cost of living.
Do Human Resources Managers in Chicago need an MBA?
These BLS figures cover everyone in the occupation regardless of degree, so they cannot isolate what an MBA adds. Human Resources Managers is a role MBA graduates commonly target, and an MBA can affect where you land within the range through network, function, and seniority — but any precise MBA premium for this role in Chicago would not be supported by this data.
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