Highest-paying business jobs in Chicago

Stacker compiled a list of the highest paying business jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as "business and financial operations occupations" were included. Keep reading to discover the highest paying business jobs in your city.

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#26. Credit counselors

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $48,700
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,430
- Employment: 31,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($74,570)
--- Lincoln, NE ($69,990)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($66,410)

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#25. Meeting, convention, and event planners

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $55,020
- #76 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,850
- Employment: 98,150
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,140)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($79,790)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($79,740)

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#24. Tax preparers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $59,200
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,080
- Employment: 83,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($81,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($79,470)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($73,170)

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#23. Fundraisers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $62,170
- #97 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,870
- Employment: 82,080
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($91,460)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($86,070)
--- Salinas, CA ($83,760)

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#22. Logisticians

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $64,560
- #332 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,230
- Employment: 189,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($115,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($111,740)
--- Kokomo, IN ($101,310)

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#21. Labor relations specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $67,570
- #117 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,070
- Employment: 63,810
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($104,620)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($98,470)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($97,520)

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#20. Human resources specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $70,020
- #69 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 22,230

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,720
- Employment: 740,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,590)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($95,460)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($91,400)

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#19. Training and development specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $70,380
- #85 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,620
- Employment: 336,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($111,580)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,720)
--- Decatur, AL ($94,650)

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#18. Market research analysts and marketing specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,240
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 27,890

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,080
- Employment: 727,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($108,370)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,510)

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#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $71,630
- #133 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)

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#16. Insurance underwriters

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $78,050
- #65 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,540

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,940
- Employment: 107,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($121,000)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($108,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,150)

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#15. Compliance officers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $79,420
- #55 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 7,020

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,810
- Employment: 334,340
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,650)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($99,460)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($96,030)

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#14. Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,020
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,980

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 87,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,980)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($96,830)

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#13. Accountants and auditors

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,250
- #66 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 38,800

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,980
- Employment: 1,318,550
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,830)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($109,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($107,540)

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#12. Loan officers

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,340
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 11,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,570
- Employment: 340,170
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($111,830)
--- Bend-Redmond, OR ($106,290)
--- Wilmington, NC ($104,930)

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#11. Cost estimators

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,740
- Employment: 208,950
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($104,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($99,450)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,550)

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#10. Budget analysts

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $88,500
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,240
- Employment: 47,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($114,670)
--- Iowa City, IA ($108,870)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($106,380)

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#9. Credit analysts

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $89,630
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,030
- Employment: 68,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($128,950)
--- Danbury, CT ($121,560)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($117,860)

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#8. Tax examiners and collectors, and revenue agents

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $94,210
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 630

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,200
- Employment: 52,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($102,470)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,710)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($98,850)

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#7. Financial risk specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $105,650
- #29 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,820

National
- Annual mean salary: $110,610
- Employment: 54,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($146,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($141,890)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($141,590)

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#6. Project management specialists

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $106,880
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $98,420
- Employment: 743,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($133,950)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($130,250)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($125,330)

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#5. Financial and investment analysts

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $107,490
- #17 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,020
- Employment: 291,880
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($135,620)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($133,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,820)

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#4. Financial examiners

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $107,690
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $96,180
- Employment: 60,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($128,280)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($125,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($124,070)

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#3. Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $109,570
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $116,410
- Employment: 12,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($132,660)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($131,780)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($131,330)

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#2. Management analysts

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $115,350
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 40,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- Employment: 768,450
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dothan, AL ($135,020)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($127,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($125,250)

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#1. Personal financial advisors

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
- Annual mean salary: $120,580
- #102 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 12,060

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,960
- Employment: 263,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($172,780)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($161,010)
--- East Stroudsburg, PA ($158,790)