Plumber · Salary Comparison · 2026
Plumber Salary: Chicago, IL vs New York, NY
Side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, cost of living, and take-home pay for Plumbers 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
$64,000 vs $84,000
Better Purchasing Power
✓ Chicago, IL
$59,813 vs $44,920
Best Take-Home (COL-Adj)
✓ Chicago, IL
$52,532 vs $38,663
2
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | New York, NY | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Annual Salary | $64,000 | $84,000▲ | -$20,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,280 | $64,680▲ | -$15,400 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,920 | $107,520▲ | -$25,600 |
| 90th Percentile | $102,400 | $134,400▲ | -$32,000 |
| Cost of Living Index | 107 | 187 | -80 |
| State Income Tax | 4.95%▲ | 6.85% | -1.8999999999999995% |
| COL-Adjusted Median | $59,813▲ | $44,920 | +$14,893 |
| Est. Annual Take-Home | $56,209 | $72,299▲ | -$16,090 |
| COL-Adj. Take-Home | $52,532▲ | $38,663 | +$13,869 |
| Total Employment | 52,500 | 102,000 | -49,500 |
▲ = Higher value wins for this metric. Diff = Chicago, IL minus New York, NY.
3Summary Analysis
On paper, New York, NY pays $20,000 more (median: $64,000 vs $84,000). However, after adjusting for cost of living (index 107 vs 187), Chicago, IL provides better purchasing power ($59,813 vs $44,920 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.