Jobs, pay and daily life in Rockford, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Rockford is a city in Illinois with 147,521 residents. The median household earns $54,752 a year and the median rent is $985 a month, which is 21.6% of the median household income. It is part of the Rockford, IL metropolitan area, where BLS counts 137,650 jobs.
Federal jobs in Illinois (1,067) →State guide: IllinoisCountry guide
There are 1,067 federal postings open in Illinois (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Illinois →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 5,940 | 2.27 | $44,200 | $33,420 | $50,410 | +10% |
| Registered Nurses | 4,620 | 1.54 | $80,930 | $66,320 | $112,790 | -17% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 3,630 | 1.07 | $31,640 | $31,200 | $35,310 | +1% |
| Cashiers | 3,620 | 1.32 | $31,680 | $31,200 | $37,380 | -4% |
| General and Operations Managers | 3,340 | 1.08 | $98,390 | $50,640 | $210,940 | -7% |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 3,130 | 2.52 | $45,670 | $35,670 | $66,040 | +2% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 3,110 | 1.24 | $36,020 | $31,200 | $45,820 | -4% |
| Retail Salespersons | 2,970 | 0.86 | $33,540 | $31,200 | $47,000 | -5% |
| Nursing Assistants | 2,120 | 1.65 | $40,140 | $37,440 | $48,810 | -5% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 2,070 | 0.90 | $43,260 | $31,210 | $64,210 | -3% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 2,010 | 1.03 | $35,970 | $31,200 | $46,470 | -2% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,000 | 0.52 | $37,270 | $32,560 | $39,380 | +4% |
| Office Clerks, General | 2,000 | 0.92 | $43,400 | $31,200 | $61,460 | -4% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 1,980 | 1.46 | $53,610 | $35,900 | $78,850 | +8% |
| Machinists | 1,800 | 7.10 | $49,700 | $36,750 | $72,420 | -15% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 1,710 | 0.85 | $31,200 | $31,200 | $46,540 | -11% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 1,690 | 0.93 | $59,900 | $38,660 | $88,590 | +2% |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | 1,530 | 1.25 | $64,200 | $47,020 | $97,770 | +0% |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | 1,470 | 1.17 | $32,020 | $31,200 | $46,300 | -13% |
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 1,380 | 4.11 | $40,990 | $31,200 | $51,740 | -5% |
These figures are for the whole Rockford, IL metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $47,120 (US $50,980); unemployment 4.4% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% |
| Manufacturing | 18.3% |
| Retail trade | 12.8% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 9.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 9.2% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.8% |
| Construction | 5.5% |
| Other services | 4.4% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 4.1% |
| Public administration | 2.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 2.0% |
| Information | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.4% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 74.3% |
| Public transit | 1.0% |
| Walk | 1.3% |
| Work from home | 10.1% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 10.9% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,752 |
| Income per person | $31,263 |
| Median gross rent per month | $985 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.6% |
| Median home value | $129,000 |
| Homeowners | 55.0% |
| Poverty rate | 21.3% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 92.2 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $47,120 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Flat 4.95%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 84.9% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 23.5% |
| Born abroad | 12.6% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 59.3% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -7.1 | 19 | 38 |
| Feb | -5.5 | 22 | 43 |
| Mar | 1.6 | 35 | 60 |
| Apr | 8.3 | 47 | 93 |
| May | 14.7 | 58 | 108 |
| Jun | 20.4 | 69 | 129 |
| Jul | 22.8 | 73 | 104 |
| Aug | 21.7 | 71 | 107 |
| Sep | 17.5 | 64 | 93 |
| Oct | 9.9 | 50 | 80 |
| Nov | 2.8 | 37 | 56 |
| Dec | -4.0 | 25 | 54 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | IL | 52 mi | 179,898 | $93,633 | $1,596 |
| Naperville | IL | 58 mi | 150,692 | $155,105 | $1,885 |
| Madison | WI | 60 mi | 278,001 | $78,050 | $1,413 |
| Joliet | IL | 70 mi | 150,445 | $92,201 | $1,276 |
| Chicago | IL | 77 mi | 2,721,326 | $80,613 | $1,486 |
| Milwaukee | WI | 79 mi | 563,512 | $56,792 | $1,081 |
| Cedar Rapids | IA | 136 mi | 137,264 | $70,424 | $967 |
| Grand Rapids | MI | 180 mi | 198,535 | $69,108 | $1,266 |
| Rochester | MN | 211 mi | 122,330 | $89,389 | $1,399 |
| Fort Wayne | IN | 218 mi | 268,589 | $61,422 | $999 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
147,521 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$985 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.6% of the median household income.
$54,752 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
4.4% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Illinois. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.