Salary comparison
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: Billings vs Chicago
Billings, MT pays about 2.0% more for securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents on paper — $102,790 vs $100,760. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Billings comes out ahead by $2,030 a year in real buying power.
Billings, MT
$102,790
$65,490
$125,890
$49.42
100
$102,790/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Chicago, IL
$100,760
$67,380
$160,890
$48.44
100
$100,760/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,030 a year (2.0%) in favor of Billings. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Billings runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Chicago sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Billings is the better deal by $2,030 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Chicago to Billings for this role, the raise needs to beat 2.0% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents earn more, Billings or Chicago?
Billings pays $102,790 on median — about 2.0% more than Chicago ($100,760). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Billings. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Billings gives you roughly$102,790 of real buying power versus $100,760 in the other city.