As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL is $34,269, equivalent to $16 per hour, $659 weekly, or $2,856 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Cargo Handler in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL vary widely, spanning from $29,747 to $38,634. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($31,902) and 75th percentile ($36,554), while top earners (90th percentile) make $38,634 per year. This $4,652 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Inventory Control, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Chicago Cargo Handler often earn 1.4% higher than national averages. However, Chicago currently ranks 249 statewide for Cargo Handler job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Cargo Handler Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $29,747 Chicago, IL August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $31,902 Chicago, IL August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $34,269 Chicago, IL August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $36,554 Chicago, IL August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $38,634 Chicago, IL August 01, 2026
25% $31,902 10% $29,747 90% $38,634 75% $36,554 $34,269 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Cargo Handler

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Job Openings for Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Cargo Handler

    0 - 1 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

  2. Up a level:

    Materials Handler II

    1 - 3 years experience
    High School Diploma or Technical Certificate

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Cargo Handler, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
31902
36554
34269

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
34363
42269
37849
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Cargo Handler ranges from $31,902 to $36,554 with the average base salary of $34,269. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $34,363 to $42,269 with the average total cash compensation of $37,849.

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31902
36554

 

About Chicago, Illinois    Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third mos....More

Chicago, Illinois  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Cargo Handler Salary in popular cities: AuroraRockfordJoliet

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