This American Life Salary

As of August 2026, the average annual salary for employees at This American Life in the United States is $98,835. This translates to an approximate hourly wage of $48. Salaries at This American Life typically range from $87,081 to $111,501 annually, reflecting the diverse roles and experience levels within the company.
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Current Job Openings at This American Life

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Is This American Life’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does This American Life's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.
Competitor / Benchmark Avg. Salary Variance Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
Hippocrates Med Review $99,267
+0.4%
Aligns perfectly with prevailing regional benchmarks for this specific job family.
Media Flashpoint $94,257
-4.6%
Reflects market rates for standard general contracting, differing from specialized roles.
The Life FM $89,468
-9.5%
The Life FM likely leverages performance bonuses over the high base salary shown here.
KFox $115,806
+17.2%
Reflects structural premiums typical of KFox's large-cap national operations.
Telecom Industry $127,537
+29.0%
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.
Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

Employee Reviews: Working at This American Life

Considering a career at This American Life? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.
The office culture is inclusive, and colleagues are supportive. Telecom projects are innovative, and employees are recognized for contributions. Cutting-edge tech and global impact. The team is supportive, and management values employee input. A stable option for professionals in the field.
Telecom can be high-pressure, but the work environment here is positive. The management genuinely cares about staff well-being, offering mental health support and flexible schedules. The company culture emphasizes both performance and well-being, offering wellness programs, mental health resources, and team-building activities that foster genuine camaraderie.
The company truly values its employees—flexible schedules, good pay, and growth opportunities. Compensation and benefits are above average, and the recognition programs are meaningful. Compensation is fair, and the HR policies are straightforward. Projects are well-structured, and colleagues are easy to work with. Teams are well-organized, and workflows are streamlined. Teams are cohesive, and wor...

This American Life Overview

Website
www.thisamericanlife.org
Founded In
2009
Employees
<25 employees
Industry
Telecom
Headquarter Address
848 E Grand Ave Chicago Illinois IL 60611
Revenue
$5 Million - $10 Million
Phone Number
+1 6462139818
Social Media
About This American Life
This American Life is a weekly public radio program and podcast. Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme.

What Benefits Does This American Life Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. This American Life offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:
Social Security
401(K)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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What Is the Cost of Living Near Chicago?

Understanding the cost of living near Chicago is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at This American Life.
Chicago's Cost of Living Index is approximately 106.9 (6.9% more expensive than US average; 14.0% more than IL average). Major US city, housing varies greatly by neighborhood but can be high, extensive CTA transit. When planning your budget based on a salary from This American Life, consider these typical monthly expenses:
Expense Category Estimated Monthly Cost Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) $1,700 - $2,600+ A significant portion of This American Life salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic) $140 - $230 Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation $105 (CTA 30-day pass) Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person) $430 - $640 Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure $450 - $800+ Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual) $400 - $750+ Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) $3,225 - $5,025+ This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of This American Life

1. How much does This American Life in the United States pay?

This American Life pays its employees an average of $98,835 per year. The average salary at This American Life range from $87,081 to $111,501 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills and location.

2. Do This American Life employees get a higher salary than its peer company?

The salary at This American Life is lesser than its peer company. The average annual salary at This American Life is $98,835, or an hourly wage of $48, in comparison to Hippocrates Med Review which pays $99,267 per year or $48 per hour.

3. What are the highest paying jobs at This American Life?

The higher-paying job at This American Life, according to our data, include Chief Financial Officer (avg. $398,873 per year), Manager, Digital (avg. $122,613 per year), and Manager, Production (avg. $109,998 per year). Pay for these roles reflects significant responsibility, specialized skills and experience.

4. How much does salary increase with years of experience at This American Life?

Salary progression with years of experience at This American Life is typical. Generally, as employees gain more relevant experience, develop more skills, and take on greater responsibilities, their earning potential increases. For example, a role with 5-7 years of experience will usually pay more than the same role requiring 0-2 years.

5. Do salaries at This American Life vary by office location?

Yes, it's very likely that salaries at This American Life vary by office location. Companies often adjust pay based on local market rates, cost of living, and talent competition in different geographic areas. For instance, a role in a high-cost city like New York City may offer a higher nominal salary than the same role in a lower-cost city like Omaha, NE. Our Cost of Living Insights for Chicago section provides more context.

6. Does This American Life offer good benefits?

This American Life typically offers a comprehensive benefits package that adds significant value to an employee's total compensation. Common benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan often with a company match, paid time off. For example, a strong 401(k) match or excellent, low-cost health insurance can be worth thousands of dollars annually, effectively increasing your overall earnings beyond your base salary. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at This American Life" section on this page.