Operations Manager · Salary Comparison · 2026
Operations Manager Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Operations Managers in Chicago, IL and New York, NY, based on BLS OEWS 2026 data.
1Which City Pays More After Tax?
Higher Gross Salary
✓ New York, NY
$100,000 vs $131,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$93,458 vs $70,053
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$82,080 vs $60,295
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $100,000 | $131,000▲ | -$31,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,000 | $100,870▲ | -$23,870 |
| 75th Percentile | $128,000 | $167,680▲ | -$39,680 |
| 90th Percentile | $160,000 | $209,600▲ | -$49,600 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $93,458▲ | $70,053 | +$23,405 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $87,826 | $112,752▲ | -$24,926 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $82,080▲ | $60,295 | +$21,785 |
| Total Employment | 28,000 | 54,400 | -26,400 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $31,000 more (median: $100,000 vs $131,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($93,458 vs $70,053 equivalent). Chicago, IL has the lower state tax rate (4.95% vs 6.85%).
Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS · 2026 · Cost-of-living indices from composite metro area data. Take-home estimates approximate only — consult a tax professional for accurate figures.