Actor salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Actors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $20.00 an hour, based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $15.00 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84.67 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $29.05. Pay here is 33% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $15.00. There are 0.14 actors per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.38).
Pay range for actors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Hourly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15.00 |
| 25th percentile | $15.00 |
| Median | $20.00 |
| 75th percentile | $31.62 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $84.67 |
| Average (mean) | $31.42 |
Half of actors earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
BLS publishes only hourly pay for this job, because actors often work irregular hours or short engagements, so a yearly figure would be misleading. At $20.00 an hour, every 40-hour week pays $800.
Actor salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median hourly | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $20.53 | 130 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $19.13 | 250 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $16.18 | 90 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $13.31 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for actors
| State | Median hourly |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $36.98 |
| Oregon | $29.81 |
| New York | $28.44 |
| Connecticut | $27.91 |
| Texas | $25.86 |
| Alabama | $24.71 |
| New Jersey | $24.29 |
| Mississippi | $23.71 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.15 |
| Tennessee | $21.82 |
See Actor pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Coaches and Scouts | $50,350 | — |
| Producers and Directors | $85,040 | $40.89 |
| Musicians and Singers | — | $53.16 |
| Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials | $51,600 | — |
| Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers, All Other | — | $21.62 |
| Disc Jockeys, Except Radio | — | $22.87 |
| Music Directors and Composers | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| Graphic Designer | $66,490 | $31.97 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $77,050 | $37.04 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $40,250 | $19.35 |
| Art Director | $104,570 | $50.28 |
| Editor | $80,380 | $38.64 |
| Audio and Video Technicians | $63,780 | $30.66 |
| Interior Designer | $76,570 | $36.81 |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a actor make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median hourly wage for actors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $20.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $15.00 for the lowest-paid 10% to $84.67 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid actors make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of actors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $84.67 an hour. The top 25% earn $31.62 or more.
What is the starting pay for actors in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $15.00 an hour, and a quarter of actors earn $15.00 or less.
How many actors work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 610 actors are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.