Hire a Community Health Worker in Chicago, IL

The health plan across town is hiring outreach staff for the same neighborhoods. A worker who already knows the families belongs at this metro's upper quarter. In Chicago, the May 2025 median is about $49.8K, within 3 percent of the Illinois median.

What to offer

A health center that copies a national midpoint will lose a trusted outreach worker to the health plan down the street. Use this metro's median for someone new to the work, and the 75th for someone who already carries a caseload.

Percentile	Metro	IL	U.S.
25th	$46,000	$44,620	$45,640
Median	$49,750	$49,240	$51,850
75th	$59,930	$58,800	$62,540

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

How hard this is to fill

Hiring difficulty

5.4

Metro employment

1,430

National growth, 2025 to 2035

Unpublished

National openings a year

Unpublished

This is the same score as the free check.

For one manager

Name the community, the language, and the caseload. Ask how the person finds a patient who stopped answering the phone.

License and training

There is no national license. Many states run a certification for community health workers, often voluntary and often tied to Medicaid payment. Confirm what your state and your payer require before you post the role.

Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, community health workers

Nearby metros

South Bend, IN · 74 miles
Rockford, IL · 77 miles
Milwaukee, WI · 86 miles
Lafayette, IN · 108 miles

Community Health Workers hiring pages

Get the local report

Questions

What do community health workers earn in Chicago, IL?

In Chicago, the May 2025 median for community health workers is about $49.8K, 4% under the U.S. median. The middle half runs from $46.0K to $59.9K.

Who hires community health workers in Chicago?

Community health centers, health departments, and hospitals hire community health workers in Chicago. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Access Community Health Network, Greater Elgin Family Care Center, Greater Family Health.

Do I need a certificate to work as a CHW in Illinois?

It depends on the program. Check the Illinois certification rules and the payer behind the job in Chicago.

What should a health center in Chicago weigh when hiring a CHW?

Ask about the language, the neighborhood, and the caseload. Chicago has roughly a fifth fewer of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is within 3 percent of the Illinois median.