Lawyer salary in Illinois
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A lawyer in Illinois earns a median of $160,800 a year ($77.31/hour equivalent), 0.7% above the national median of $159,670. Illinois ranks #10 of 51 states. About 33,590 people do this job in Illinois.
Take-home pay in Illinois
At the Illinois median, a single filer keeps about $113,358 a year after federal, FICA and Illinois taxes — $4,360 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Illinois paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $6,184.62
- Federal income tax
- −$1,051.00
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$383.45
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$89.68
- Illinois income tax
- −$300.57
- Take-home pay
- $4,359.92
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $160,800
- Federal
- $27,326
- FICA
- $12,301
- State + local
- $7,815
- Net
- $113,358
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 5.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Illinois compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | $207,860 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| #3 | California | $195,080 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| #5 | Delaware | $173,510 |
| #10 | Illinois | $160,800 |
| #49 | Wyoming | $100,130 |
| #50 | Arkansas | $98,880 |
| #51 | Mississippi | $91,690 |
See the national lawyer salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Lawyers (SOC 23-1011), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Illinois?
The median salary is $160,800 a year and the average is $181,240 (BLS May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for lawyers?
Illinois ranks #10 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 1% above the national median of $159,670.
What is $160,800 after taxes in Illinois?
About $113,358 a year ($4,360 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.