Benchmark $707/mo · ranked 12 of 23 · median wage $34,440
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The benchmark premium for a 40-year-old in Illinois is $707 a month for 2027, ranking 12 of 23 states published here. BLS reports a median annual wage of $34,440 for Animal Caretakers in Illinois.
Below the cliff. At this income a single-person household remains eligible for a premium tax credit in 2027.
This occupation is below the cliff in all 23 states reported.
What this figure is. It is the median annual wage BLS reports for Animal Caretakers (SOC 39-2021) in Illinois. BLS surveys wage and salary workers and excludes the self-employed, so it is a benchmark for the occupation in this state — not the income of a self-employed dog groomer. Premium tax credit eligibility is set by household modified adjusted gross income and household size, not by occupation, so treat this as a reference point rather than a determination of what you qualify for.
Why the cliff is back. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on 31 December 2025. For plan year 2027 the 400% FPL limit applies again, so household income above $63,840 ends premium tax credit eligibility outright.
Benchmark premium and median wage for this occupation, ranked by premium.
| # | State | Benchmark @40 | Median wage | vs cliff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $491 | $35,990 | below |
| 2 | Indiana | $537 | $28,800 | below |
| 3 | Virginia | $549 | $30,830 | below |
| 4 | Nevada | $565 | $29,530 | below |
| 5 | Michigan | $595 | $29,730 | below |
| 6 | Ohio | $603 | $29,700 | below |
| 7 | Colorado | $615 | $35,300 | below |
| 8 | North Carolina | $660 | $28,900 | below |
| 9 | Oklahoma | $686 | $28,370 | below |
| 10 | South Carolina | $702 | $29,900 | below |
| 11 | South Dakota | $704 | $29,460 | below |
| 12 | Illinois | $707 | $34,440 | below |
| 13 | Alabama | $712 | $27,940 | below |
| 14 | Utah | $716 | $31,550 | below |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $720 | $29,490 | below |
| 16 | Georgia | $733 | $28,880 | below |
| 17 | Texas | $737 | $29,810 | below |
| 18 | Florida | $738 | $30,380 | below |
| 19 | Kansas | $748 | $27,970 | below |
| 20 | Arkansas | $757 | $29,370 | below |
| 21 | Nebraska | $780 | $29,970 | below |
| 22 | Tennessee | $796 | $29,800 | below |
| 23 | Mississippi | $814 | $23,740 | below |
This page compares states. For Illinois specifically — county-by-county carriers, plan data and enrollment help — that is published on Coverage by County. To check whether a plan actually covers your hospital, see Plans By City.
Put your ZIP code in and a licensed agent will show you the carriers filing in your county, what the cheapest plan costs, and what you would actually pay after any help you qualify for. No cost, and you talk to a licensed agent — not a call center.
Plans for 2027 in Illinois are sold through the state’s own marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, and Open Enrollment there runs from November 1.
Insurers in Illinois were approved for an average 14.1% increase for 2027; your own premium turns on the plan and the county.
Choose by December 15 and your plan starts January 1. Get Covered Illinois sets its own closing date, so do not plan around a later one.
The 2027 plans are posted and the deadline for a January 1 start is December 15. Ten minutes with your ZIP code settles which plan still fits.
Enter a ZIP and a licensed agent will tell you three things:
Rates for Dog Groomers in Illinois are set by county, not by occupation. Start with your ZIP and a licensed agent will show you the plans actually filed where you live.
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