Tax Preparer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Tax Preparers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $48,670 a year ($23.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,020 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,980 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $54,920. Pay here is 11% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $54,480. There are 0.23 tax preparers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.46). The average (mean) salary is $55,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for tax preparers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,750 | $16.71 |
| 25th percentile | $44,500 | $21.39 |
| Median | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| 75th percentile | $63,180 | $30.37 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,980 | $40.38 |
| Average (mean) | $55,160 | $26.52 |
Half of tax preparers 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.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,055.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,027.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,871.92 |
| Weekly | $935.96 |
| Hourly | $23.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Tax Preparer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $69,210 | 380 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,280 | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $57,220 | 280 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,730 | n/a |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $46,300 | 50 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $45,930 | 140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $45,780 | 700 |
| Evansville, IN | $44,200 | 80 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $39,990 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for tax preparers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $71,850 |
| California | $70,030 |
| Utah | $66,720 |
| Montana | $63,080 |
| Missouri | $62,780 |
| Colorado | $62,620 |
| Alaska | $62,360 |
| New Hampshire | $61,370 |
| Oregon | $61,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,270 |
See Tax Preparer pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,360 | $39.60 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,750 | $48.92 |
| Personal Financial Advisor | $113,210 | $54.43 |
| Loan Officer | $80,040 | $38.48 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,740 | $39.30 |
| Insurance Underwriter | $99,840 | $48.00 |
| Financial Examiner | $98,470 | $47.34 |
| Credit Analyst | $92,900 | $44.67 |
| Financial Risk Specialist | $105,370 | $50.66 |
| Property Appraisers and Assessors | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| Credit Counselor | $57,210 | $27.51 |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents | $93,590 | $45.00 |
| Budget Analyst | $88,460 | $42.53 |
| Management Analyst | $105,090 | $50.53 |
More: Business and Financial Operations 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 13-2082. 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 tax preparer make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for tax preparers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $48,670 a year, or $23.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,750 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid tax preparers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of tax preparers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $83,980 a year. The top 25% earn $63,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for tax preparers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,750 a year, and a quarter of tax preparers earn $44,500 or less.
How many tax preparers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,020 tax preparers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.