From advertising to zookeeping, from opera to Oprah, we crunched the numbers on pay at more than 190 jobs around town. What's in your wallet?
Photography by Steven E. Gross
A stenographer who makes more than Barack Obama. A doctor who makes less than a dog walker. And who knew personal shoppers could make more than twice as much as first-year public defenders?
Our survey of annual salaries in Chicago gave us a few surprises-and reams of interesting conversations. To compile our report, we scoured public records and published sources; interviewed human resources personnel, union leaders, and industry experts; and simply asked people about their pay. (When one of our numbers here comes from another published source, we've cited the source. Data from public records and interviews are unmarked.) For some workers we annualized income by multiplying their hourly wage by the number of hours they said they worked (if they didn't say, we assumed 52 40-hour weeks). Many of the struggling artists, athletes, and do-gooders on our list have other jobs that pay the rent. We include income only for the job listed for 2005, unless otherwise noted. Finally, many of these jobs have perks and benefits that we did not quantify, such as getting health insurance, use of the Governor's Mansion, or a chance to kiss Jennifer Aniston. We only counted the cash (except in the case of Tuna the cat).
| Entertainers | |
|
Oprah (Source: Forbes) |
$225 million
|
|
Vince Vaughn ($12 million for The Break Up, $3 million for Wedding Crashers) |
$15 million
|
|
Steve Carell Second City alum (for The 40-Year-Old Virgin) |
$500,000
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Oprisko Sinatra-style singer |
approx. $175,000
|
|
Stephen Sodaro Magician and psychic entertainer |
$35,000
|
|
Cassandra Bissell Stage actress, Short Shakespeare! ‘Macbeth' |
$14,000
|
|
Actor Steppenwolf Theatre Company |
From $350/week (for smaller stages) to $800/week (for larger stages)
|
| Highest-paid athletes | |
|
1) Jim Thome White Sox designated hitter/first baseman |
$14.167 million
|
|
2) Tim Thomas Bulls forward |
$13.975 million
|
|
3) Paul Konerko White Sox first baseman |
$12 million
|
|
4) Javier Vazquez White Sox pitcher |
$11.5 million
|
|
5) Kerry Wood Cubs pitcher |
$11 million
|
|
6) Aramis Ramirez Cubs third baseman |
$10.5 million
|
|
7) Tyson Chandler Bulls center |
$9 million
|
|
8) Freddy García White Sox pitcher |
$9 million
|
|
9) Greg Maddux Cubs pitcher |
$9 million
|
|
10) Derrek Lee Cubs first baseman |
$8.667 million
|
|
Paid to Play |
|
|
Ozzie Guillen Manager, world champion White Sox |
$2 million
|
|
Dusty Baker Manager, Cubs |
$3.75 million
|
|
Nikolai Khabibulin Goalie and highest-paid member of the Chicago Blackhawks |
$6.75 million
|
|
Craig Anderson Backup goalie, Chicago Blackhawks |
$450,000
|
|
Jerry Azumah, Cornerback and highest-paid member of the Chicago Bears |
$3 million
(base salary; does not include bonus) |
|
Brian Urlacher Middle linebacker, Chicago Bears |
$1.25 million
(base salary; does not include bonus) |
|
Kane County Cougar First season |
$1,100/month, maximum
|
|
Luvabull Chicago Bulls |
$40 plus two tickets per game; $90/hour for personal appearances
|
|
|
|
|
Juanna Rumble Blocker, Windy City Rollers |
$0
|
|
Lifeguard supervisor Chicago Park District |
$31,200
(based on $15/hour) |
| Price of Success | |
|
Combined 2005 salaries of Cubs starting pitchers |
$27.8 million
|
| Price per win by starters: |
$556,200
|
|
Combined 2005 salaries of White Sox starting pitchers (Mark Buehrle, Jon Garland, Freddy Garcia, Orlando Hernandez, Jose Contreras) |
$29.4 million
|
| Price per win by starters: |
$408,333
|
|
Media figures
|
|
|
Diann Burns News anchor, CBS 2 (Source: Chicago Tribune) |
$2 million
|
|
Mancow Muller Radio host, WKQX (Source: Chicago Sun-Times) |
$2 million
|
|
Ira Glass Executive producer/host of This American Life, WBEZ |
$105,692
(2004 salary) |
|
Phil Ponce Host of Chicago Tonight, WTTW |
$195,893
(2004 salary) |
|
Advertising executive Starcom |
$47,300
|
|
Creative accounting
|
|
|
Sir Andrew Davis Principal conductor/music director Lyric Opera of Chicago |
$885,624
|
|
Chorus member Lyric Opera of Chicago |
$49,000
|
|
James Cuno President and Eloise W. Martin Director, Art Institute of Chicago |
$371,985
|
|
Deborah Card President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association |
$391,667
|
|
Samuel Magad Concertmaster, Chicago Symphony Orchestra |
$261,402
|
|
Robert Chen Co-concertmaster, Chicago Symphony Orchestra |
$235,042
|
| CSO union musician |
$106,080
|
|
Model Elite Chicago |
$75,000 to $150,000
|
|
Hair/makeup artist Elite Chicago |
$60,000
|
|
Kevin Eichorst Portrait photographer |
$20,000
|
|
Kevin Stein |
$1,500
(sum he spent to promote Poetry Now, a project to attract audiences for poetry ) |
|
Food and drink |
|
|
Executive chef Italian restaurant in the Loop |
$57,000
|
|
Daniel Speer Chef, Morseland |
$31,200
|
|
Kate Wimbiscus Barista, Starbucks, Michigan Avenue and Huron Street |
$17,680
(based on $7.50/hour, $1/hour in tips) |
|
Al Mroz Bartender, Woodlawn Tap |
$31,980
(based on $6/hour plus $60 to $90/night in tips) |
|
Robert Adams Jr. and Robert Adams Sr. Co-owners, Honey 1 BBQ |
$20,000 (each)
|
|
Abby Witt Cocktail waitress, Mad Jack's |
$5,980
(based on $100 to $130/night, one night/week) |
|
Yana Dubinsky Cocktail waitress, Rockit Bar & Grill |
$43,680
(based on $3.80/hour, $200 to $300/night in tips, three nights a week) |
|
John Wills Dairy Queen cashier |
$8,450
(based on $6.50/hour, 25 hours/week) |
|
|
|
|
Sharone Mitchell Sales consultant, Judge & Dolph, liquor distributors |
$55,000
|
| Style around town | |
|
Brian Sutcliffe |
$48,000
|
|
Joe Giacobbe Barber, University Barber, South Side |
$25,000
(estimate based on range) |
|
Edith Slawniak Aesthetician, Renu Day Spa, North Shore |
$57,000
|
|
Living with the law |
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Esbrook Second-year associate, Kirkland & Ellis |
$145,000
|
|
Dan Webb Überlawyer, Winston & Strawn(Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch) |
$1 million
|
|
Chris Nathan First-year public defender, Cook County |
$43,222
|
|
Mara Georges Corporation counsel, City of Chicago |
$159,276
|
|
Entry-level legal secretary Gardner, Carton & Douglas |
$38,000
|
|
Patrick Fitzgerald U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois |
$143,000
|
|
Richard Posner Federal judge, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals |
$175,100
(does not include income from writing or from teaching at the University of Chicago Law School) |
|
Rebecca Pallmeyer Federal judge, Northern District of Illinois |
$165,200
|
|
The skin trade |
|
|
Exotic dancer Admiral Theatre Gentlemen's Club |
$300 to $1,000 /night
|
|
Cara Zavaleta Miss November 2004, Playboy |
$25,000
(for Playmate of the Month pictorial) |
|
Christie Hefner CEO, Playboy |
$1.44 million
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times) |
|
Tough guys |
|
|
Lance Corporal James Craven U.S. Marine Corps |
$31,000 plus $1,750 hazard pay for tour of duty in Iraq
|
|
Bouncer Gold Coast bar |
$37,000
(based on $10 to $13/hour plus up to $100 in tips/night) |
|
Crime doesn't pay |
|
| Street-Level Drug dealer |
$1,776
(after gang dues; source: Freakonomics) |
|
Animal people |
|
|
Stuart D. Strahl President and CEO, Brookfield Zoo |
$258,750
|
|
Jennifer Hunt Lead zookeeper, Habitat Africa! (Savanna), Regenstein Wolf Woods, Brookfield Zoo |
$48,000
|
|
Ted A. Beattie President and CEO, Shedd Aquarium |
$464,848
|
|
Veterinarian North Side clinic |
$50,000 to $75,000
|
|
Steven Heard Moo & Oink poultry department |
$10,192
(based on $7/hour, 26 to 30 hours/week) |
|
Tuna Feline actress (fee: $800 a day), Amazing Animals by Samantha |
$533
(value of 104 cans of tuna, 52 cans of salmon, 26 containers of Pounce cat treats, 12 catnip mice, 6 feather wands, and health insurance) |
|
Soul people |
|
|
Funeral director First year of licensure |
$59,334
|
|
Bill Hybels Senior pastor, Willow Creek Community Church |
$115,000
|
|
Susan B. W. Johnson Senior minister, Hyde Park Union Church |
$72,381
|
|
Alan Taylor Minister, Unity Temple, Oak Park |
$65,000
|
|
Priest Archdiocese of Chicago |
$25,000
(plus room, board, meals, health insurance, car insurance) |
|
Hearse driver Four years' experience |
$46,749
|
|
Stock options |
|
|
Brad Aubuchon Stockbroker, NYTC LLC |
$1.13 million
|
|
Stockhandler Chicago Public Library |
$21,770
|
|
Jobs that still make house calls |
|
|
Swimming pool salesman American Sales |
$30,000
|
|
Pizza deliveryman Aurelio's Pizza |
$27,820
(based on $500 to $570/week) |
|
James Casara Handyman |
$41,600
(based on $20/hour) |
|
Power players |
|
|
Electrician Local 134, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers |
$73,112
(based on $35.15/hour) |
|
John Carson Project consultant, LTK Engineering Services |
$102,000
|
|
John W. Rowe CEO, Exelon Corp. |
$11.5 million
(Source: Forbes) |
|
Jobs you can't miss |
|
|
Bagpiper Chicago Stockyard Kilty Band |
$150/visit; $200/visit on St. Patrick's Day or New Year's Eve
|
|
Jun Cameron Drummer, Michigan Avenue |
$25 to $150/day
|
|
Errol Ragsdale Street solicitor, Save the Children |
$8/hour plus commission
|
|
Vehicle booter City of Chicago Department of Revenue |
$52,728
(based on $25.35/hour) |
|
Educators |
|
|
Bonnie Muran First-year third grade public school teacher, Grayslake |
$39,143
|
|
James L. Madara Dean of the biological sciences and vice president for medical affairs, University of Chicago |
$758,940
|
|
Third-year teacher at a North Side Catholic school Chicago |
$26,845
|
|
Keith Majeske 12th-year English teacher, Morgan Park High School |
$60,226
|
|
Henry S. Bienen President, Northwestern University |
$593,250
|
|
Don Randel President, University of Chicago |
$501,714
|
|
Randy Walker Football coach, Northwestern University |
$516,833
|
|
Dipak C. Jain Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University |
$754,986
|
|
Kerensa Peterson Adjunct professor, City Colleges of Chicago |
$7,488
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Micheletti Private Italian tutor |
$14,040
(based on $30/hour, 9 hrs/week) |
|
Teaching assistant Northwestern University |
$18,000
(teaching fellowship) |
|
Brian Gillis Ph.D candidate in political science, University of Chicago |
$30,000
($24,000 fellowship, plus $6,000 for admissions test prep tutoring for The Princeton Review) |
| Self-employed chess teacher |
$40,000
|
|
A butcher, a baker, a candle-stick maker |
|
|
Stefan Zajczenko Butcher, Dorfler's Meat Market |
$35,000
|
|
Gracie Gamero Baker, Medici |
$32,000
|
|
Brad ZasAda Candlestick maker, Melting Point |
$18,720
(based on $9/hour) |
|
Union workers |
|
|
Plumber Local 130, Chicago Journeymen Plumbers |
$79,872
(based on $38.40/hour) |
|
Carpenter Local 181, Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters |
$73,465
(based on $35.32/hour) |
|
Bricklayer Local 21, United Order of American Bricklayers and Stone Masons |
$69,160
(based on $33.25/hour) |
|
Nose jobs |
|
|
Freelance perfumer Major department store |
$25,000
|
|
Theresa Montana Florist, City Scents |
$125,000
|
|
Dana Hammett Florist's employee, Cattails |
$18,720
(based on $9/hour) |
|
Garbage truck driver Waste Management |
$60,000 to $80,000
|
|
Sewer worker Chicago Department of Water Management |
$62,712
(based on $30.15/hour) |
|
Salesclerk Bath & Body Works |
$16,640
(based on $8/hour) |
|
Leonel Lopez Cashier, Dunkin Donuts |
$14,040
(based on $6.75/hour) |
|
Old economy |
|
|
Seth Zurer Travel agent, Select Italy |
$35,000
|
|
Riley Johnson Shoe shiner, Cell Block |
$2,600
(based on $5/hour, one 4-hour shift/week, $30/night in tips) |
|
|
|
|
Tina Alfaro Stenographer, Victoria Court Reporting |
$175,000
|
|
Stenographer Cook County state's attorney's office |
$27,346
|
|
Neil Massey Sword maker, Rogue Steel |
$30,000 to $35,000
|
|
Kevin Statz Jouster |
$500/weekend
|
|
Kelley Rutherford Personal companion |
$25/hour
|
|
Steve Kazmier Typewriter repairman, Independence Business Machines |
$60,000
|
|
New economy |
|
|
Software engineer Online travel Web site |
$140,000
|
|
Jessa Crispin E-zine editor (Bookslut.com)/freelance writer |
$35,000
|
|
Roy Shay Party DJ |
$6,000
(based on $200 to $800/month) |
|
Information technology worker Entry level |
$50,000
|
|
People behind the people |
|
|
Executive assistant Five years' experience, Lakeshore Staffing |
$80,000 to $100,000
|
|
Executive assistant to CEO Lakeshore Staffing |
$120,000
|
|
Receptionist Lakeshore Staffing |
$28,500
|
| Maid |
$24,000 to $43,000
|
|
Kristin Thompson Teacher, Gymboree Play & Music |
$24,000
|
|
|
|
|
Katherine Raz Dog walker, Danny's Dog Walkers |
$26,000
(based on $400 to $600/week) |
|
Personal shopper Major department store |
$110,000
|
|
Personal trainer Oak Brook Park District |
$18 to $25/hour
|
|
Aerobics instructor Oak Brook Park District |
$11,648
(based on $28/class, 8 classes/week) |
|
Bridget Walsh Sebek 18-year-old babysitter |
$10/hour
|
|
Caring a lot |
|
|
Cassandra Firkins Foster care case manager supervisor, Little City Foundation |
$41,500
|
|
Registered Nurse General practitioner's office |
$40,000
|
|
Policy analyst Public health nonprofit |
$40,000
|
|
Nurse Private specialty practice, four to five years' experience |
$60,000
|
|
Dr. Mark Macumber Family physician and founder of Patients First, a practice dedicated to affordable health care |
$17,000
|
|
Kathleen Belan Psychotherapist, Challenge Healthcare Corp. |
$58,000
|
|
Senior policy analyst Public health nonprofit |
$50,000
|
|
Office manager Nonprofit |
$30,000
|
|
Mayoral suite |
|
|
Richard M. Daley Mayor, Chicago |
$216,210
|
|
Adrienne Hiegel Assistant to the mayor, Chicago |
$124,440
|
|
Frank Van Buer Mayor, DeKalb |
$25,000
|
|
Joyce Stupegia Village president, Villa Park |
$4,400
|
|
Our taxes at work |
|
|
Richard Mell 33rd Ward alderman, Chicago |
$98,125
|
|
Rod Blagojevich Governor of Illinois and Mell's son-in-law |
$150,691
|
|
Judy Baar Topinka State treasurer of Illinois and gubernatorial candidate |
$115,235
|
|
Michael Madigan |
$81,007
|
|
Lisa Madigan Illinois attorney general and daughter of the Speaker |
$132,963
|
|
John H. Stroger Jr. |
$170,000
|
|
Forrest Claypool Cook County commissioner |
$85,000
|
|
Patrick Quinn Lieutenant governor of Illinois |
$115,235
|
|
Jan Schakowsky |
$165,200
|
|
Barack Obama U.S. senator from Illinois |
$165,200
|
|
Dennis Hastert U.S. representative, 14th District of Illinois, Speaker of the House |
$212,100
|
|
Donald Rumsfeld |
$183,100
|
|
Emil Jones Jr. Illinois senator, senate president |
$81,007
|
|
Frank Watson Illinois senator, senate minority leader |
$81,007
|
|
Tom Cross |
$81,007
|
|
Nancy Majeske Postal clerk |
$42,630
|
|
James Laski Former city clerk; resigned in February after indictment |
$133,545
|
|
Cortez Trotter |
$164,100
|
|
Firefighter First year, Chicago |
$40,416
|
|
Philip Cline Chicago police superintendent |
$182,016
|
|
Police officer |
$42,258
|
|
Police sergeant Chicago |
$75,102
(median salary) |
|
Paul Volpe Budget director, City of Chicago |
$148,476
|
|
Dorothy Eng |
$106,980
|
|
Traffic signal repairman Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation |
$72,696
|
|
Library page Chicago Public Library |
$16,640
(based on $8/hour) |
|
Hydrant inspector Department of Water Management, Chicago |
$82,416
|
|
Top dollars |
|
|
Glenn F. Tilton CEO, UAL Corporation |
$1.2 million
|
|
Alan J. Lacy CEO, Sears Holdings |
$1.5 million
|
|
James A. Bell CEO, The Boeing Company |
$1.6 million
|
|
Miles D. White CEO, Abbott Laboratories |
$4.4 million
|
|
Edward J. Zander CEO, Motorola |
$6.5 million
|
|
Edward M. Liddy CEO, Allstate |
$26.7 million
|
|
W. James Farrell CEO, Illinois Tool Works |
$32.6 million
|
|
THE BONUS ROUND |
|||||
| WHO |
IRENE ROSENFELD
CEO, Kraft Foods |
TED LILLY
Starting pitcher, Chicago Cubs |
KEVIN BENSON
President and CEO, Laidlaw International** |
RONALD TAYLOR
CEO, DeVry Inc. |
BRIAN GAMACHE
CEO, WMS Industries*** |
| TOTAL PAY |
$6.45 million* (2006)
|
$9 million (2007)
|
$1.89 million
|
$1.71 million
|
$1.23 million
|
| BASE SALARY |
$1.3 million
|
$5 million
|
$663,667
|
$900,000
|
$737,500
|
| BONUS |
$5.15 million
|
$4 million
|
$1.23 million
|
$810,113
|
$493,670
|
| BONUS AS PERCENTAGE OF SALARY |
396
|
80
|
185
|
90
|
67
|
| BONUS IN NUMBER OF … |
16-slice packages of Kraft American Singles:
1,122,004 |
16-ounce cups of Old Style at Wrigley Field:
727,273 |
Roundtrip Greyhound bus tickets between Chicago and Milwaukee:
51,250 |
Semesters (tuition only) at DeVry University's Illinois campuses:
131 |
25-cent plays on a Hot Hot Super Jackpot slot machine:
1,974,680 |
|
|
* Does not include award of restricted stock worth between $3.1 million and $8.8 million. (Additional source: Chicago Tribune) | (Additional sources: Chicago Tribune, sportsline.cnn.com) | **Naperville-based holding company for Greyhound bus lines | ***Waukegan-based gaming company. (Additional source: Daily Herald) | |
|
THEN AND NOW |
||||
|
|
1967
|
IN TODAY'S DOLLARS*
|
INFLATION-ADJUSTED INCOME
|
TODAY
|
| Median U.S. wage for women |
$2,296
|
$13,852
|
70%
|
$23,546
(2005 – most recent year available) |
| Median U.S. wage for men |
$5,974
|
$36,059
|
-3%
|
$34,926
(2005 – most recent year available) |
| Average major league baseball player |
$19,000
(Source: usatoday.com) |
$114,683
|
2,254%
|
$2,699,292
(White Sox player Joe Crede came the closest locally at $2.68 million in 2006; he'll make $4.94 million in 2007) (Source: sportsline.com) |
| Evanston District 65 teacher |
$6,000
|
$36,216
|
89%
|
$68,571
Brian Stone, business education teacher, Evanston Township High School |
| Average faculty member, Northwestern University |
$13,899
(Source: Time) |
$83,893
|
38%
|
$115,800**
|
| Entry-level nurse |
$6,500**
|
$39,234
|
22%
|
$48,048
Chicago Department of Health |
| Entry-level police officer, Chicago Police Department |
$6,792**
|
$40,996
|
5%
|
$43,104
|
| Director of a City of Chicago mental health center |
$11,364**
|
$68,592
|
1%
|
$69,168
John M. Fusco |
| Entry-level librarian |
$7,000**
|
$42,252
|
-1%
|
$41,688
Chicago Public Library |
| Evanston mayor |
$3,600**
|
$21,729
|
-22%
|
$17,000**
Lorraine Morton (2005 – most recent year available) |
| Average entry-level college grad with a degree in science or engineering |
$8,400**
|
$50,702
|
-27%
|
$37,000
Stephanie McNee, cognitive science research assistant, University of Chicago |
|
*Adjusted to 2006 rate using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index. **Source: Chicago Tribune |
||||
|
PUNCHING IN |
||||||||
| Median hourly wage of a U.S. worker: $18.62 (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | ||||||||
| WHO |
OPRAH WINFREY
Chairman, Harpo Inc. |
EDWARD J. ZANDER
CEO, Motorola |
W. JAMES McNERNEY JR.
CEO, Boeing Company |
PAUL B. MULHOLLEM
President and CEO, Archer Daniels Midland |
BRENDA C. BARNES
CEO, Sara Lee |
CRAIG P. OMTVEDT
Senior vice president and CFO, Fortune Brands |
DAVID B. VERMYLEN
President and COO, Treehouse Foods |
MICHAEL G. STEIN
Executive vice president, Corus Bank N.A. |
| SALARY (2006) |
Approx. $225 million*
|
$4.87 million**
|
$3.57 million**
|
$1.67 million***
(retired) |
$1.43 million**
|
$555,000***
|
$$555,000***
|
$275,000***
|
| HOURLY WAGE |
$108,173
|
$2,341
|
$1,716
|
$803
|
$688
|
$267
|
$240
|
$132
|
| *Source: Forbes. ***Source: Chicago Tribune. ***Source: Crain's Chicago Business 2007 Book of Lists | ||||||||
|
HEAD TO HEAD We pitted several Chicagoans one-on-one against each other to measure performance-of a sort. |
|||
|
CEDRIC BENSON
Running back, Chicago Bears Salary: $5.67 million* Dollars per yard rushed (2006 season): $8,764 |
THOMAS JONES
Running back, Chicago Bears Salary: $1.85 million* Dollars per yard rushed (2006 season): $344 |
 |
|
|
BEN GORDON
Guard, Chicago Bulls Salary: $3.86 million* Dollars per point scored (2005-06 season): $2,861 |
KIRK HINRICH
Guard, Chicago Bulls Salary: $3.19 million* Dollars per point scored (2005-06 season): $2,484 |
 |
|
|
JOHN W. McCARTER JR.
President and trustee, Field Museum Salary (2005): $434,534 Pay per visitor (2005): 33 cents |
DAVID MOSENA
President, Museum of Science and Industry Salary (2005): $371,392 Pay per visitor (2005): 21 cents |
 |
|
|
HENRY S. BIENEN
President, Northwestern University Salary (2006-07): $650,500** Dollars per undergraduate student enrolled (fall 2006): $82 |
SYLVIA MANNING
Chancellor, University of Illinois at Chicago Salary (2006-07): $321,000** Dollars per undergraduate student enrolled (fall 2006): $21 |
 |
|
|
GARY CATALANI
Superintendent, Community Unit School District 200, Wheaton Salary (2005-06): $380,227*** Pay per student: $27 |
GARY CATALANI
CEO, Chicago Public Schools Salary (2005-06): $208,316*** Pay per student: 49 cents |
 |
|
|
LOSER WINS? Charting success versus salaries for leaders of Chicago teams shows you don't always get what you pay for. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Model, Elite Chicago Hours per week: 24 to 32 Time at current job: Three years with Elite Annual vacation allotment: About two weeks (in August, modeling's off-season) First job: Waitressing in Rockford, age 15, $5.15 an hour, plus tips Fantasy job: "I always kind of wanted to be on CNN. Or something artistic. Or working at a magazine." |
Creative director, Blake Standard clothing design Hours per week: 55 Time at current job: One and a half years Annual vacation allotment: Three to four weeks First job: Assistant designer for a women's clothing company, age 22, $24,000 a year Fantasy job: "Historian-seriously" |
Meter reader, ComEd Hours per week: 40 on average, occasionally 48 Time at current job: 16 years Annual vacation allotment: 24 days First job: Salesclerk for a clothing boutique, age 18, $3.35 an hour (the minimum wage) Fantasy job: Home remodeling |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Dog groomer, Barking Lot Hours per week: 72 on average Time at current job: One year Annual vacation allotment: One week First job: Dog bather, age 16, $6 an hour Fantasy job: Veterinarian |
Self-employed entertainment lawyer Hours per week: "Not enough" Time at current job: Two and a half years Annual vacation allotment: None Other job: "Musician, but it doesn't pay." First job: Paperboy, age 11, $12 a month Fantasy job: Buddhist monk or professional surfer |
Web application developer/analyst, Technology Services Group Hours per week: 40 Time at current job: One year and seven months Annual vacation allotment: Two weeks, plus comp time for overtime hours First job: Clerk at health foods store, age 14, $6.25 an hour Fantasy job: Geneticist |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Magician/CEO, Windy City Wizard Productions Hours per week: 40 to 50 Time at current job: First paid gig was 31 years ago; full-time for about five years Annual vacation allotment: 30 days, usually a working vacation Other jobs: Father and husband ("I have a colorful past: I've been everything from a social worker to a network engineer.") First paid magic show: age 14, $50; first hourly job: theatre usher, age 16, $3.50 an hour Fantasy job: Insurance or real estate |
Owner/master stylist, Roque Salon Hours per week: 50 to 60 Time at current job: Six years in August Annual vacation allotment: About three weeks Other job: Owner of The Lashe Spot, a mini-salon specializing in eyelash extensions First job: Apprenticeship at Vidal Sassoon, age 19, $4 an hour Fantasy job: "If I couldn't do hair, I would be teaching, in fashion design, or I'd own another business." |
Art and marketing specialist, ColorBurst, a screen-printing company Hours per week: 40 Time at current job: Three years Annual vacation allotment: Three weeks Other job: Graphic designer/owner of Envision Eight, a graphic and Web design firm (earning about $20,000 for 15 to 20 hours a week) First job: Perfume sales associate in a mall, age 17, $7 an hour plus commission Fantasy job: "I don't see myself doing anything besides graphic art." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Architect, 12/12 Architects & Planners Hours per week: 30 Time at current job: Three years and eight months Annual vacation allotment: Four weeks Other job: Instructor of computer-aided design and interior design at Westwood College's DuPage campus (making $32,000 for 25 hours a week) First job: Planner for Illinois Tollway, age 22, $10 an hour Fantasy job: Kindergarten teacher |
Handyman/owner, Ask Lon!, a handyman-for-hire business Hours per week: 40-plus Time at current job: 16 months (after 20 years in the health care industry) Annual vacation allotment: "My goal is two weeks." First job: Gas station attendant, age 13 or 14, $2.25 an hour Fantasy job: "I have a permanent smile slapped across my face; I'm doing exactly what I love." |
Middle-school teacher at Ariel Community Academy, a Chicago public school *includes grant for Teach for America |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Zen Buddhist priest, Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago Hours per week: Ten Time at current job: Four years Annual vacation allotment: None-he volunteers Other job: Owner of Chicago Railroad Supply, a Bridgeview-based company that sells equipment to railroads First job: Golf caddy, age 15, $5 for 18 holes Fantasy job: College professor |
Personal trainer/owner, 1 on 1 Fitness Training Hours per week: 15 to 20 Time at current job: Opened own studio 18 months ago; in the business 20-plus years Annual vacation allotment: Whatever he wants, usually two to four weeks Other job: Real-estate broker First job: Burger King employee, age 15, $2 an hour Fantasy job: Real-estate builder |
Self-employed female impersonator Hours per week: Six on average Time at current job: Ten years Annual vacation allotment: Miss Foozie takes working vacations roughly every other month to cities including New York and Washington, D.C. Other job: Miss Foozie's alter ego works full-time at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. First paid gig: The weekly stage show Miss Foozie and Her Floozies, age 37, $30 per show Fantasy job: To be Miss Foozie full-time |
Reasearch by Megan Lovejoy, Alexis Mattera, Carrie Napolilli, Nora O'Donnell, Corina Quinn, Brendan Shea, Pauline Shih, Brigid Sweeney, and Jennifer Wehunt
Photography by Kevin Banna. Photo assistant: Steve Rischow, Digital tech: Mike Shimer, Styling: Leslie Pace, Hair and makeup: Angela Brasington, Hair and makeup (Holly only): Cindy Adams/Elite Chicago
Some people rake it in. Others eke by. And lots of people fall somewhere in between. Presenting a peek inside the paychecks of more than 250 Chicagoans, from athlete to Zen Buddhist priest, exterminator to lifesaver, fat cat to publicity hound. And, of course: Oprah
Edited by Jennifer Wehunt
Ask someone about his job, and you're likely to get an earful. But ask him about his salary, and he'll probably clam up faster than Jeremy Piven sidestepping questions about his recent flap with his pal John Cusack. (Piven wouldn't tell us what he makes, either.) Still, we did find plenty of other Chicagoans willing to fess up when we asked them about their pay.
Among our findings were some eyebrow-raising couplings: A West Town bartender made more dough than an up-and-coming Bucktown restaurant owner. One hairdresser came up significantly short compared with a local dog groomer. The former head of the Greater Chicago Food Deposi-tory edged out Mayor Daley. And apparently the glass ceiling transcends technicalities: a well-known female impersonator earned way less than a male adult-film actor. Then there was the completely predictable: once again, no one raked in more than Oprah.
In assembling this report, we conducted personal interviews, tracked down public records, and pored over published articles (we cite the articles). Some sources requested anonymity, but every entry in this survey denotes an actual person, and all figures represent 2006 pay unless otherwise noted. For those who keep nontraditional work schedules, such as a freelance puppet builder and a romance novelist, we asked for explanations of how they calculate their income. And some on this list who eke out a pittance-think musicians and artists-may have other ways of making ends meet beyond what we include. Others may not.
Oh, and though we were snubbed by Piven, we did turn up his mother's pay stub. Find it, and the wages of more than 250 other Chicagoans and suburbanites, in our salary survey.
| TASTEMAKERS |
|
|
Melissa Turner |
$50,000
|
|
Joseph Mapes |
$30,000
plus commission |
|
Kalinda Piper |
$11,700
(25 to 30 hours a week) |
| NOISEMAKERS |
|
|
Mark Valenti |
$54,437*
|
|
Bryan Y. Schulz |
$20,000
(15 hours per week) |
|
Nick Wright |
$32,000
|
|
Jay Congdon |
$120,000
|
|
Ed Gadberry |
$1,500
|
|
Vicente Perez |
Approx. $85,000
|
| NEWSMAKERS |
|
|
Daniel J. Schmidt |
$332,465*
|
|
Torey Malatia |
$160,124*
|
|
Reporter with three years' employment |
$42,000
|
|
Art director |
$32,000
|
|
Section editor |
$45,000
|
|
Fouzia Najar |
$12,480
(part-time) |
|
Average vendor, Streetwise |
Approx. $1,521
|
|
Super seller, Streetwise |
Approx. $10,140
|
| STAR GAZERS |
|
|
$42,000
|
|
|
Larry Ciupik |
$80,065*
|
| THE AIR UP THERE (Radio personalities who make more than $1 million; source: Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times) | |
|
Spike O'Dell |
|
|
Ed Volkman ("Eddie") |
|
|
Joe Bohannon ("JoBo") |
|
|
Jonathon Brandmeier ("Johnny B.") |
|
|
Eric Ferguson |
|
|
Mike North |
|
|
Roe Conn |
|
|
Steve Dahl |
|
| HIGH SPIRITS |
|
|
Sommelier |
$110,000
|
|
Nicole Alexander |
$46,000
|
|
Nazario Odeste |
$35,000
|
|
Bouncer |
$22,230
|
|
Beer promoter |
$12,480
|
|
Bar-back |
$7,000
(all from gratuities; working one night per week) |
| MOVERS AND SHAKERS |
|
|
Lowest-paid mover |
$13,000
($10 an hour, 25 hours per week) |
|
Highest-paid mover |
$35,360
($17 an hour, 40 hours per week) |
|
Calvin Kitten |
$65,115*
|
| STAGE HANDS |
|
|
Gail Rastorfer |
$39,000*
|
|
Jim Vincent |
$154,154*
|
|
Keith Prisco |
$70,200*
|
|
Meredith Miller |
Approx. $25,000
|
|
Michael C. Reynolds |
$160,315*
|
|
Adriana Wolfer |
$63,048
|
|
Brian Pudil |
$4,000
|
|
Joyce Piven |
$48,369*
|
|
Thrisa Hodits |
$500
(for most recent show, Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company's H.M.S. Pinafore at Mandel Hall) |
|
Rachael Mason |
Approx. $35,000
|
| THE FOOD CHAIN |
|
|
Thelma Cura |
$63,120
|
|
Stephanie Izard |
$45,000
|
|
Sous-chef |
$42,400
|
|
Head baker |
$33,488
|
|
Sara Salzinski |
$32,760
|
|
Line cook |
$24,000
|
|
Cashier |
Approx. $18,720
|
| NOW, THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT |
|
|
Ricky Sinz Adult-film actor, model, and co-owner of holeandaheartbeat.com, an adult Web site |
$570,000
|
|
Michelle L'amour |
$40,000
|
| STARVING ARTISTS |
|
|
Coya Paz |
$0
|
|
Adam Kline |
$0
|
| THE WELL PLANNED |
|
|
Civil design engineer |
$125,000
|
|
Molly Gallagher |
$83,000
|
|
Kathy Speers |
Approx. $30,000
|
| HIGH SOCIETY |
|
|
Nafees Ahmed |
$108,060
|
|
Kathleen Davis |
$37,152
|
|
Richard Rucker |
$95,347
|
| VISUAL AIDES |
|
|
Elizabeth Smith |
$150,000*
|
|
Ces·reo Moreno |
$67,300*
|
|
Douglas Druick |
$176,065*
|
|
Gabe Lanza |
$40,000
|
|
TOP REASONS WHY CHICAGO SPORTS TICKETS ARE SO PRICEY (Chicago's Highest-Paid Athletes)
|
|
|
1. Alfonso Soriano |
$17 million
($9 million salary plus $8 million signing bonus) (Source: Chicago Sun-Times) |
|
2. Ben Wallace |
$16 million
(Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com) |
|
3. Aramis Ramirez |
$14.6 million
(Source: Chicago Sun-Times) |
|
4. Jim Thome |
$14 million
(Source: sports.espn.go.com) |
|
5. Javier Vazquez |
$12.5 million
(Source: sports.espn.go.com) |
|
6. Carlos Zambrano |
$12.4 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
7. Paul Konerko |
$12 million
(Source: sports.espn.go.com) |
|
8. Kirk Hinrich |
$11.42 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
9. Jon Garland |
$10 million
(Source: Daily Herald) |
|
10. Mark Buehrle |
$9.5 million
(Source: Daily Herald) |
| UTILITY PLAYERS |
|
|
$45,000
|
|
|
John Scumaci |
$49,980
|
|
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME (Except as noted, all figures are for current or most recent season.)
|
|
|
Staley Da Bear |
Mid-$30,000s
plus commission for nongame appearances |
|
Rex Grossman |
$469,290
(Source: msn.foxsports.com) |
|
Brian Griese |
$3.67 million
(Source: msn.foxsports.com) |
|
Tank Johnson |
$406,460
(Source: msn.foxsports.com) |
|
Brian Urlacher |
$4.3 million
(Source: msn.foxsports.com) |
|
Muhsin Muhammad |
$9.34 million
(Source: msn.foxsports.com) |
|
Nikolai Khabibulin |
$6.75 million
(Source: chicagoblackhawks.com) |
|
Kyle Calder |
$2.95 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Peter Bondra |
$500,000
plus bonuses (Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Chris Duhon |
$3.02 million
(Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com) |
|
Lou Piniella |
$3.5 million
(Source: New York Daily News) |
|
Mark DeRosa |
Approx. $4.3 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Jason Marquis |
$4.75 million
(Source: espn.com) |
|
Kerry Wood |
$1.75 million
(does not include more than $6 million in performance incentives) (Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Scott Podsednik |
$2.9 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Mike MacDougal |
$6.45 million
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Jose Contreras |
$9 million
(Source: Daily Herald) |
|
Ross Gload |
$625,000
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Highest-paid player |
$93,000
|
|
Lowest-paid player |
$3,800
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Senior yoga and pilates instructor |
$80,500
|
|
Ron Kucera |
$0*
|
|
Michael J. Klonoski |
$0*
|
| DALEY BREAD |
|
|
Richard M. Daley |
$216,210
|
|
Jacquelyn Heard |
$156,444
|
|
Joan Coogan |
$111,900
|
| EARTH, WIND, AND FIRE |
|
|
John Blaul |
$75,888
|
|
Joe Moore |
$98,125
|
|
Michael Dickinson |
$74,963
|
| TOUR GUIDES |
|
|
Dorothy Coyle |
$98,832*
|
|
Bert Vescolani |
$150,602*
|
|
Alexis Presseau |
$2,500
|
|
Lynn Osmond |
$215,000*
|
|
Docent |
$0
|
| DEATH AND TAXES |
|
|
Second-year funeral |
$68,000
|
|
Rod Blagojevich |
$150,691
|
|
Pat Quinn |
$115,235
|
|
Lisa Madigan |
$132,963
|
|
Jesse White |
$132,963
|
|
Alexi Giannoulias |
$115,235
|
|
A. George Pradel |
$21,600
plus $5,400 to serve as city liquor commissioner |
|
Bobbie Steele |
$56,666
for four months (plus $136,000 pension in 2007) (Source: Sun-Times) |
|
William Bell |
$115,033
|
|
Marilyn Elder |
$56,826
|
|
John Eberhardt |
$62,152
|
|
Richard Figiel |
$76,731
|
|
Annette Amelkovich |
$16,224
|
|
Tong Tran |
$112,152
|
| LAW AND ORDER |
|
|
Philip Cline |
$182,016
|
|
Vincent Gortner |
$105,383
|
|
Julie Schwerdtner |
$78,483
|
|
James Gillingham |
$38,916
|
|
Assistant public defender (level 2) |
$44,974
|
|
Ronald Mohammed |
$57,444
|
|
Margo Ely |
$127,244
|
|
Joshua Martin |
$125,000
|
| CSI CHICAGO |
|
|
Daniel Vasquez |
$72,726
|
|
Percy Allen Jr. |
$75,258
|
|
Stephen Strzepek |
$94,188
|
|
Kelly McMullin |
$88,356
|
| THE ETHICISTS |
|
|
Kay Argo |
$84,037
|
|
Briana Billingslea |
$51,912
|
|
JoAnn Newsome |
$85,908
|
| NOT-FOR-PROFITEERS |
|
|
Sam Blake |
$80,043*
|
|
Joseph Podlasek |
$54,957*
|
|
Michael Mulqueen |
$253,821*
|
|
Michael Halligan |
$144,235*
|
|
Linda Novick O'Keefe |
$64,500
|
|
Rev. Sid Mohn |
$207,265*
|
|
Barry Axler |
$100,000
|
|
John Sirek |
$102,382*
|
| PUBLICITY HOUNDS |
|
|
Account supervisor |
$64,000
|
|
President |
$125,000
|
|
Associate art director |
$35,000
|
| FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS |
|
|
Betty Tunstall |
$74,672
|
|
Elizabeth Riordan |
$78,072
|
|
Brian Dent |
$76,958*
|
| AUTHORITY FIGURES |
|
|
Frank Kruesi |
$197,750
|
|
Patrick Daly |
$145,673
|
|
David Reuter Jr. |
$53,735
|
|
Michelle New |
$52,678
|
|
Eric Pickett |
$52,678
|
|
Gregory Magruder |
$49,471
|
| GREENS KEEPERS |
|
|
Steve Kaliski |
$45,736
|
|
Stephanie Wynne |
$56,826
|
|
Thankgod Omenazu |
$85,908
|
|
Patti Sauntry |
$53,098
|
| BRAINS AND BRAWN |
|
|
Gloria Salas |
$151,224
|
|
Michael Tootelian |
$150,000
|
| MIND MELDERS |
|
|
William Gerstein |
$114,000
|
|
Zoila Garcia |
$102,000
|
|
English teacher |
$29,500
|
|
Tara Volbrecht |
Approx. $15,600
(averaging $35 an hour, 10 hours per week) |
|
Mollie Godfrey |
$13,000 stipend
(plus $4,500 for teaching, approx. $3,500 for an archiving job, and $3,000 as a research assistant) |
|
Paula McQuade |
$59,750
|
|
Ingrid Dorer Fitzpatrick |
$90,900*
|
|
M. C. Roderick |
$185,083*
|
| HEALTH AND BEAUTY |
|
|
Larry Goodman |
$663,254*
|
|
Gwendolyn Moton |
$215,820*
|
|
Staff nurse |
$145,600
|
|
Saul Ayala |
$41,496
|
|
Karen Washington Jone |
$49,980
|
|
Teresita Hogan |
$244,014*
|
|
James Vasilakis |
$240,547*
|
|
Second-year internal medicine resident |
$41,870
|
|
Jennifer R. Moran-Ferguson |
$147,126
(practicing one day a week) |
|
Wendy Jordan |
$20,000
|
|
Heather Pisano |
$40,000
|
|
Angela Hartman |
Approx. $30,000
(not including gratuities) |
|
Image consultant |
$46,000
|
| CAN'T BUY ME LOVE? |
|
|
Penny Dawn |
$1,200
(35 percent royalty on all sales) |
|
Jaime Marie Stepp |
Approx. $80,000
(depending on number of events) |
|
De Kuan Xie |
$2,756
(20 hours per week) |
|
HIRE LEARNING (Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education)
|
|
|
Warrick L. Carter |
$348,159*
|
|
Anthony E. Jones |
$306,061*
|
|
Rev. Michael J. Garanzini |
$0*
(undisclosed compensation is paid to the president's religious order) |
|
Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider |
$0*
(undisclosed compensation is paid to the president's religious order) |
| SOUL PROPRIETORS |
|
|
David Gwartney |
$57,600
|
|
Senior rabbi |
$170,000
|
|
Catholic priest |
$32,400
(plus room and board, car and health care allowances, and "stole fees" for weddings and funerals) |
|
Godfrey J. Catanus |
$39,000
|
|
THE BOYS' CLUB (Jordan's 2006 salary, Forbes; all others, 2005, Chicago Tribune)
|
|
|
Timothy R. Schwertfeger |
$6.32 million
|
|
Miles D. White |
$4.78 million
|
|
Melvin J. Gordon |
$4.39 million
|
|
Gregory C. Case |
$3.93 million
|
|
Robert W. Lane |
$3.6 million
|
|
Robert L. Parkinson Jr. |
$3.16 million
|
|
G. Allen Andreas |
$3.08 million
|
|
James W. Owens |
$2.57 million
|
|
Edward M. Liddy |
$1.82 million
|
|
Richard C. Vie |
$1.61 million
|
|
Glenn F. Tilton |
$1.12 million
|
|
Joe Mansueto |
$107,022
|
|
Michael Jordan |
$32 million (2006)
|
| BEAN COUNTERS |
|
|
Accounting manager |
$63,000
|
|
Global tax operations analyst |
$56,000
|
|
Account manager |
Approx. $50,000
(including commission) |
|
Jonathan Wysaski |
$100,000, minimum
|
|
Manager/consultant |
$98,000
(plus bonus, 15 to 30 percent of salary) |
|
Marine subrogation representative (claim handler, cargo division) |
$42,000
|
|
Barista |
Approx. $16,562
(including gratuities; 30 to 35 hours per week) |
|
Co-owner |
$78,000
|
| TECH SUPPORT |
|
|
Eric Kiander |
Approx. $70,000
|
|
Steven Danan |
$32,000
|
|
Thomas Van Housen |
$60,000
|
|
Ryan Wolff |
$20,000
|
| BOOKKEEPERS |
|
|
Veronica Velez |
Approx. $14,950
|
|
Hector Hernandez |
$75,264
|
|
Joshua Kotin |
$8,500
|
|
Robert Karrow |
$73,950*
|
| STOP AND GO TRAFFICKERS |
|
|
Sabrina Guzman |
$16,318
|
|
Annette Stacey |
$52,728
|
|
Jeffrey Weiner |
$82,212
|
|
Debra Carolan |
$6,725
|
|
Limo driver |
$45,760
(including gratuities) |
|
Cabdriver |
$26,000
(including gratuities) |
| HIS AND HERS |
|
|
First-year female veterinarian, |
$65,000
|
|
and |
$63,000
|
|
Barack Obama |
$154,047*
Senate salary plus $1.2 million partial payment on $1.9-million three-book deal |
|
and |
$316,962*
(Source: Chicago Tribune) |
|
Casey Deja |
Approx. $50,000
|
|
and |
$100,000
|
|
Airida and Valdas Judys |
$120,000
(combined) |
| HOUSEHOLD NAMES |
|
|
John Maloof |
$80,000
(down from $156,000 in 2005) |
|
Daniel Deja |
Approx. $50,000
|
|
Ari Elliott |
$80,000
|
|
Landlord |
$48,000
|
| WHO YOU GONNA CALL? |
|
|
Joseph F. Braun |
$52,000
|
|
Gus Martinez |
$70,000
|
|
Tim Ramey |
$50,000
|