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Chicago Transit Authority salaries
Chicago Transit Authority salary estimate
$39,914yearly
Chicago Transit Authority Salaries Overview
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) provides a reliable salary structure that reflects the value of its workforce. In 2025, the average salary at the CTA is estimated at $39,914, a figure that may vary based on job role and department. High-paying positions can be found in areas such as customer service and hospitality, offering competitive wages to attract top talent.
Employees in specialized roles often receive additional benefits, enhancing overall compensation. The CTA values its staff and aims to create an environment that supports their professional growth. Understanding the salary ranges and department-specific pay can help prospective employees make informed career choices.
- Average salary: $39,914
- High-paying jobs include customer service and hospitality roles
- Salary varies by department and job specialization
Highest paying jobs at Chicago Transit Authority
The highest paying jobs at Chicago Transit Authority are oracle applications consultant, senior attorney, business analyst, and maintenance manager. Oracle applications consultant jobs at Chicago Transit Authority earn an average yearly salary of $121,682, Chicago Transit Authority senior attorney jobs average $102,780, and Chicago Transit Authority business analyst jobs average $89,840.
The lowest paying Chicago Transit Authority roles include cashier and janitor. Chicago Transit Authority cashier average salary is $28,894 per year. So while the average Chicago Transit Authority salary is $39,914 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at Chicago Transit Authority
| Rank | Job title | Average Chicago Transit Authority salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oracle Applications Consultant | $121,682 | $58.50 |
| 2 | Senior Attorney | $102,780 | $49.41 |
| 3 | Business Analyst | $89,840 | $43.19 |
| 4 | Maintenance Manager | $84,641 | $40.69 |
| 5 | Legal Extern | $84,079 | $40.42 |
| 6 | Structures Engineer | $82,712 | $39.77 |
| 7 | Systems Analyst | $81,389 | $39.13 |
| 8 | Project Specialist | $75,870 | $36.48 |
| 9 | Transportation Manager | $62,290 | $29.95 |
| 10 | Car Repairer | $59,782 | $28.74 |
| 11 | Electrical Worker | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| 12 | Coordinator | $57,423 | $27.61 |
| 13 | Training Specialist | $55,406 | $26.64 |
| 14 | Procurement Administrator | $52,284 | $25.14 |
| 15 | Mechanic | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| 16 | Car Servicer | $44,625 | $21.45 |
| 17 | Bus Operator | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 18 | Bus Driver | $37,006 | $17.79 |
| 19 | Administrative Assistant | $36,471 | $17.53 |
| 20 | Flagman | $35,936 | $17.28 |
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Chicago Transit Authority salaries by department
Salaries at Chicago Transit Authority vary depending on the department you work in. Chicago Transit Authority salaries in the legal department are the highest with an average salary of $79,814. Employees in the engineering department at Chicago Transit Authority receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $77,416 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Chicago Transit Authority include the customer service and the warehouse organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $34,497 and $36,945, respectively.
Average Chicago Transit Authority salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average Chicago Transit Authority salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legal | $79,814 | $38.37 |
| 2 | Engineering | $77,416 | $37.22 |
| 3 | Finance | $71,008 | $34.14 |
| 4 | IT | $56,064 | $26.95 |
| 5 | Supply Chain | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| 6 | Human Resources | $51,720 | $24.87 |
| 7 | Facilities | $50,219 | $24.14 |
| 8 | Construction | $47,758 | $22.96 |
| 9 | Administrative | $40,505 | $19.47 |
| 10 | Plant/Manufacturing | $37,939 | $18.24 |
| 11 | Hospitality/Service | $37,578 | $18.07 |
| 12 | Warehouse | $36,946 | $17.76 |
| 13 | Customer Service | $34,498 | $16.59 |
How much does Chicago Transit Authority pay by department?
Best paying Chicago Transit Authority hospitality/service salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Chicago Transit Authority salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bus Operator | $37,620 | $18.09 |
| 2 | Bus Driver | $37,006 | $17.79 |
Best paying Chicago Transit Authority customer service salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Chicago Transit Authority salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Car Repairer | $59,782 | $28.74 |
| 2 | Customer Service Assistant | $34,807 | $16.73 |
| 3 | Customer Service Representative | $31,655 | $15.22 |
| 4 | Ticket Agent | $27,902 | $13.41 |
Best paying Chicago Transit Authority facilities salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Chicago Transit Authority salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance Manager | $84,641 | $40.69 |
| 2 | Lineman | $69,775 | $33.55 |
| 3 | Signal Maintainer | $59,279 | $28.50 |
| 4 | Diesel Mechanic | $56,061 | $26.95 |
| 5 | Bus Mechanic | $53,120 | $25.54 |
| 6 | Repair Specialist | $49,443 | $23.77 |
| 7 | Rail Car Repairman | $49,131 | $23.62 |
| 8 | Rail Technician | $48,269 | $23.21 |
| 9 | Trackman | $46,657 | $22.43 |
| 10 | Car Servicer | $44,625 | $21.45 |
| 11 | Service Technician | $44,153 | $21.23 |
| 12 | Maintenance Worker | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| 13 | Security/Customer Service | $31,532 | $15.16 |
| 14 | Custodian | $31,156 | $14.98 |
| 15 | Security Officer | $30,218 | $14.53 |
| 16 | Janitor | $29,951 | $14.40 |
| 17 | Cleaning Crew Member | $28,913 | $13.90 |
| 18 | General Cleaner | $28,427 | $13.67 |
Chicago Transit Authority competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at Chicago Transit Authority competitors, like TriMet, The Dart Network, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, vary. TriMet employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $58,667. The average salary at The Dart Network is $57,270 per year, and the average salary at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is $48,248 per year.
Highest paying Chicago Transit Authority competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TriMet | 4.7 | $58,667 |
| 2 | The Dart Network | 4.7 | $57,270 |
| 3 | Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | 4.7 | $48,248 |
| 4 | Dallas Area Rapid Transit | 4.1 | $47,277 |
| 5 | Utah Transit Authority | 4.8 | $46,059 |
| 6 | MBTA | 4.8 | $45,220 |
| 7 | VIA Metropolitan Transit | 4.2 | $43,890 |
| 8 | GRTC Transit System | 3.8 | $42,840 |
| 9 | MARTA | 4.2 | $42,338 |
| 10 | San Francisco Municipal Railway | 4.4 | $42,318 |
| 11 | Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority | 4.7 | $42,010 |
| 12 | NJ Transit | 4.8 | $41,141 |
| 13 | San Diego Metropolitan Transit System | 4.1 | $40,603 |
| 14 | Transdev Services, Inc. | 4.2 | $38,958 |
| 15 | First Student | 4.7 | $36,923 |
| 16 | Orange County Transportation Authority | 4.4 | $36,897 |
| 17 | New Orleans Regional Transit Authority | 4.3 | $36,865 |
| 18 | MV Transportation | 4.5 | $36,761 |
| 19 | Durham School Services | 4.4 | $36,380 |
| 20 | Greater Cleveland Rta | 3.8 | $36,340 |
Recently added Chicago Transit Authority salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigator | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $85,269 |
| Senior Manager, Client Computing & User Support | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $130,000 |
| Coordinator, Rail Car Appearance | Rosemont, IL | 06/29/2025 | $79,566 |
| Manager, Control Center | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $121,960 |
| Steamfitter (Heating & Air Conditioning) | Chicago, IL | 06/29/2025 | $108,524 |
What employees say about salary at Chicago Transit Authority
Having the opportunity to work alone, and meeting all kinds of different people
Working in cold conditions in the winter
Health insurance, and retirement plans
Working with the public
Not able to explore other positions
Since this pandemic hit, my favorite perk is catching up with my regular crowd
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Transit Authority salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Chicago Transit Authority, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Chicago Transit Authority. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Chicago Transit Authority. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Chicago Transit Authority. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Chicago Transit Authority and its employees or that of Zippia.
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