As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL is $34,285, equivalent to $16 per hour, $659 weekly, or $2,857 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Cargo Handler in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Cargo Handler in Chicago, IL vary widely, spanning from $29,768 to $38,651. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($31,921) and 75th percentile ($36,570), while top earners (90th percentile) make $38,651 per year. This $4,649 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 264 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 $29,768 Chicago, IL January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $31,921 Chicago, IL January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $34,285 Chicago, IL January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $36,570 Chicago, IL January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Cargo Handler Salary $38,651 Chicago, IL January 01, 2026
25% $31,921 10% $29,768 90% $38,651 75% $36,570 $34,285 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Cargo Handler

Forward Air Corp. - Des Plaines, IL

Cargo Handler

Forward Air - Des Plaines, IL

Cargo Handler

Illinois Staffing - Des Plaines, IL

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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

 
 
 
31921
36570
34285

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
33517
41285
36907
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 $31,921 to $36,570 with the average base salary of $34,285. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $33,517 to $41,285 with the average total cash compensation of $36,907.

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31921
36570

 

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

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