Average salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
The average salary in Illinois is $71,130 a year and the median is $51,960, across 6,098,130 jobs (BLS May 2025). Illinois ranks #16 of 51 for average pay.
| Average (mean) salary | $71,130 |
| Median salary | $51,960 |
| Median hourly wage | $24.98 |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $32,900 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $127,770 |
| Take-home on the average salary (single, 2026) | $55,494 |
Highest-paying jobs in Illinois
- Chief Executive: $331,920
- Airline Pilot: $293,490
- Family Medicine Physician: $245,120
- Computer and Information Systems Manager: $171,730
- Financial Manager: $165,880
- Architectural and Engineering Manager: $163,610
- Marketing Manager: $162,860
- Lawyer: $160,800
- Natural Sciences Manager: $159,670
- Dentist: $156,110
- Sales Manager: $155,280
- Purchasing Manager: $153,370
- Human Resources Manager: $151,370
- Manager: $140,240
- Pharmacist: $139,080
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detective: $135,080
- Veterinarian: $133,580
- Computer Network Architect: $132,790
- Physician: $132,540
- Software Engineer: $132,110
Most common jobs in Illinois
| Job | Employed | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Laborer and Freight | 195,390 | $40,550 |
| General and Operations Manager | 171,300 | $103,570 |
| Cashier | 139,630 | $34,490 |
| Registered Nurse | 138,910 | $95,990 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | 134,100 | $38,060 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | 127,590 | $33,910 |
| Retail Salesperson | 126,610 | $35,370 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | 109,240 | $37,680 |
| Customer Service Representative | 100,970 | $46,130 |
| Office Clerk | 95,980 | $45,730 |
| Janitor and Cleaner | 93,760 | $37,810 |
| Truck Driver | 84,200 | $60,320 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | 76,460 | $44,140 |
| Secretary and Administrative Assistant | 74,280 | $48,310 |
| Waiter and Waitress | 72,900 | $31,200 |
Estimate your own paycheck with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all occupations). Highest-paying list covers the 300 largest occupations nationally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Illinois?
$71,130 a year (mean of all jobs), with a median of $51,960 ($24.98/hour), per BLS May 2025. Illinois ranks #16 of 51.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
Chief Executive ($331,920), Airline Pilot ($293,490), Family Medicine Physician ($245,120), among the 300 most common occupations.
What is a good salary in Illinois?
Earning more than the median of $51,960 puts you above half of Illinois workers; the top 10% earn over $127,770.