Small businesses in Chicago: 2022 numbers
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area had 248,377 businesses with paid staff in 2022. Of the 49 industries below, the most common are restaurants, general contractors, law firms. Each page shows local pay and firm sizes, with a calculator for what admin hours cost there.
Industries in Chicago
| Industry | Businesses | Avg pay | Under 10 staff | US rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 7,262 | $30,681 | 46% | 3rd |
| General contractors | 6,625 | $61,325 | 96% | 3rd |
| Law firms | 5,981 | $149,639 | 86% | 4th |
| Dental practices | 4,918 | $55,715 | 79% | 3rd |
| Real estate agents | 4,272 | $87,322 | 96% | 6th |
| Insurance agencies | 4,083 | $107,206 | 90% | 3rd |
| Landscapers | 3,790 | $75,342 | 90% | 2nd |
| Plumbers | 3,093 | $83,854 | 80% | 3rd |
| Hair salons | 2,914 | $31,383 | 86% | 3rd |
| Auto repair shops | 2,901 | $53,769 | 91% | 3rd |
| Preschools and daycares | 2,550 | $33,687 | 59% | 3rd |
| Therapy practices | 2,111 | $50,489 | 89% | 3rd |
| Electricians | 2,100 | $91,085 | 80% | 3rd |
| Cleaning services | 2,096 | $31,145 | 80% | 2nd |
| IT services companies | 2,090 | $136,194 | 87% | 5th |
| Physical therapy practices | 2,043 | $47,500 | 80% | 3rd |
| Coffee shops | 1,973 | $22,789 | 45% | 4th |
| Accounting firms | 1,818 | $110,543 | 85% | 4th |
| Bars and breweries | 1,474 | $27,427 | 69% | 2nd |
| E-commerce brands | 1,427 | $60,878 | 84% | 4th |
| Bookkeepers | 1,407 | $58,190 | 93% | 4th |
| Gyms | 1,293 | $21,693 | 56% | 3rd |
| Property management companies | 1,274 | $63,770 | 82% | 5th |
| Chiropractors | 1,227 | $39,573 | 93% | 3rd |
| Boutique hotels | 920 | $44,678 | 39% | 7th |
| Nail salons | 848 | $27,739 | 96% | 6th |
| Architects | 838 | $101,708 | 80% | 3rd |
| Financial advisors | 813 | $233,566 | 90% | 4th |
| Roofers | 760 | $84,736 | 84% | 2nd |
| Pet groomers | 717 | $27,716 | 74% | 3rd |
| Veterinary clinics | 716 | $50,377 | 45% | 5th |
| Optometrists | 664 | $46,201 | 83% | 4th |
| Interior designers | 651 | $71,294 | 91% | 4th |
| Commercial real estate firms | 603 | $96,013 | 81% | 4th |
| Marketing agencies | 575 | $103,651 | 72% | 4th |
| Music schools | 569 | $21,924 | 75% | 3rd |
| Car dealerships | 556 | $82,762 | 17% | 3rd |
| Catering companies | 439 | $33,930 | 68% | 4th |
| Photographers | 390 | $34,040 | 94% | 3rd |
| Moving companies | 357 | $54,286 | 75% | 3rd |
| Bakeries | 353 | $29,755 | 66% | 3rd |
| Tutoring centers | 334 | $19,834 | 61% | 5th |
| Florists | 324 | $29,900 | 88% | 3rd |
| Recruiting agencies | 310 | $64,444 | 69% | 3rd |
| Mortgage brokers | 308 | $116,271 | 86% | 7th |
| Barbershops | 244 | $30,161 | 85% | 3rd |
| Pest control companies | 239 | $52,793 | 67% | 11th |
| Golf courses | 189 | $53,859 | 35% | 2nd |
| Food trucks | 137 | $33,833 | 95% | 19th |
Where these numbers come from
The U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2022 (released 2024). Counties in this metro: Cook County, Illinois; DeKalb County, Illinois; DuPage County, Illinois; Grundy County, Illinois; Kane County, Illinois; Kendall County, Illinois; Lake County, Illinois; McHenry County, Illinois; Will County, Illinois; Jasper County, Indiana; Lake County, Indiana; Newton County, Indiana; Porter County, Indiana. Page checked 2026-11-12.