2026 Salary Data · Chicago, IL

Director of Product Salary in Chicago

How much does a Director of Product make in Chicago? Salary data, top employers, and career insights for Directors of Product in the Greater Chicago area.

$344K
Median Total Comp
-7%
vs National Avg
moderate
Cost of Living
1,400+
Product Roles

How Much Does a Director of Product Make in Chicago?

Directors of Product in Chicago earn a median total compensation of $344K, 7% below the national average. Chicago offers a balance of competitive salaries and manageable cost of living (index: 115). The strong job market features approximately 1,400+ open product roles, with strength in B2B SaaS (General) and E-commerce / Marketplace.

Chicago's cost-of-living index is 115 (vs 100 national average), placing it in the moderate range. A $344K Director salary provides solid purchasing power relative to the national average.

$228K$521K
P25-P75 Median

AI Specialization Premium in Chicago

Standard Director
$344K
$265K - $442K
AI-Specialized Director
$420K
$323K - $539K

Directors of Product with AI/ML experience earn a 22% premium in Chicago. While Chicago's AI ecosystem is still growing, companies here pay the premium to attract AI-experienced PMs.

Director of Product Salary by Company Type in Chicago

FAANG / Big Tech
$447K
+30%
Pre-IPO Unicorn
$396K
+15%
Growth Startup (B/C)
$344K
Baseline
Enterprise / Fortune 500
$361K
+5%
Early Startup (Seed/A)
$292K
-15%
Agency / Consulting
$275K
-20%

Top Employers for Directors of Product in Chicago

McDonald'sGrubhubGrouponUptakeTempusSprout SocialPaylocity

Chicago is a top-10 tech market with strengths in enterprise SaaS, foodtech, and martech. The city benefits from a diverse economy and strong universities (Northwestern, UChicago). PM salaries are 5% below the national average but cost of living is manageable.

B2B SaaS (General)E-commerce / MarketplaceFintech

Other Product Roles in Chicago

Chief Product Officer
15+ years
$446K
+30%
VP of Product
12+ years
$377K
+10%
Staff Product Manager
8-12 years
$293K
-15%
AI Product Manager
3-7 years
$284K
-17%
Platform Product Manager
5-9 years
$256K
-26%
Technical Product Manager
4-8 years
$251K
-27%

Director of Product Salary in Other Cities

Minneapolis, MN
moderate cost of living
$340K
-1%
Detroit, MI
moderate cost of living
$322K
-6%
Dallas, TX
moderate cost of living
$344K
Same
Atlanta, GA
moderate cost of living
$340K
-1%
San Francisco, CA
very-high cost of living
$444K
+29%
San Jose, CA
very-high cost of living
$437K
+27%
New York City, NY
very-high cost of living
$425K
+24%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Director of Product make in Chicago?+
The median total compensation for a Director of Product in Chicago is $344K, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $265K to $442K. This is 7% below the national average of $370K.
What companies hire Directors of Product in Chicago?+
Top employers for Directors of Product in Chicago include McDonald's, Grubhub, Groupon, Uptake, Tempus. Chicago is a top-10 tech market with strengths in enterprise SaaS, foodtech, and martech.
Is Chicago a good city for Directors of Product?+
Chicago has a strong product job market with approximately 1,400+ open product roles. The cost of living is moderate. Strong industries include B2B SaaS (General), E-commerce / Marketplace, Fintech.
How does Director of Product salary in Chicago compare to other cities?+
Chicago pays 7% below the national average for Directors of Product. For comparison, San Francisco pays +20%, New York pays +12%, and Austin is the baseline. Similar markets include Minneapolis, Detroit, Dallas, Atlanta.
Do Directors of Product in Chicago earn more with AI experience?+
Yes. The AI specialization premium for Directors of Product in Chicago is 22%, bringing the median from $344K to $420K. While Chicago's AI ecosystem is still developing, companies here still pay the premium for AI-experienced PMs.
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