Average and median wage in Illinois
Half of the 6,098,130 workers in Illinois earn less than $51,960 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $71,130, or $34.20 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $32,900 or less and the top 10% $127,770 or more. The average is about the same as the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median about the same as the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $33K10th
- $38K25th
- $52KMedian
- $83K75th
- $128K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Illinois per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,130 | $34.20 | $69,770 |
| Median | $51,960 | $24.98 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $32,900 | $15.82 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $37,960 | $18.25 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $83,060 | $39.93 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $127,770 | $61.43 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Illinois
- Chicago$73,380
- Bloomington$70,010
- Springfield$69,800
- Champaign$68,290
- Peoria$68,130
- Decatur$63,570
- Rockford$61,020
- Kankakee$57,760
Map of Illinois metro areas
Loading map…
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $73,380 | $54,720 | $56,962 | 104 | $353,998 |
| Bloomington | $70,010 | $53,140 | $54,757 | 94 | $260,134 |
| Springfield | $69,800 | $52,670 | $54,620 | 93 | $200,409 |
| Champaign | $68,290 | $50,700 | $53,632 | 93 | $237,290 |
| Peoria | $68,130 | $49,590 | $53,528 | 91 | $172,742 |
| Decatur | $63,570 | $51,290 | $50,253 | 88 | $126,931 |
| Rockford | $61,020 | $47,120 | $48,330 | 92 | $221,368 |
| Kankakee | $57,760 | $45,830 | $45,872 | 96 | $223,721 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Illinois
- Radiologists · Chicago$454,080
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Chicago$450,930
- Cardiologists · Chicago$416,040
- Dermatologists · Chicago$402,740
- Surgeons, All Other · Chicago$398,860
- Chief Executives · Champaign$385,520
- Physicians, All Other · Champaign$369,270
- Chief Executives · Chicago$357,220
- Physicians, All Other · Decatur$349,190
- Physicians, Pathologists · Chicago$339,170
Most common jobs in Illinois
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 195,390 | $42,960 | $40,550 | $48,110 |
| General and Operations Managers | 171,300 | $135,540 | $103,570 | $143,740 |
| Cashiers | 139,630 | $34,950 | $34,490 | $35,760 |
| Registered Nurses | 138,910 | $94,360 | $95,990 | $97,930 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 134,100 | $38,210 | $38,060 | $38,490 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 127,590 | $34,280 | $33,910 | $34,690 |
| Retail Salespersons | 126,610 | $38,680 | $35,370 | $39,370 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 109,240 | $39,990 | $37,680 | $40,700 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 100,970 | $48,950 | $46,130 | $49,800 |
| Office Clerks, General | 95,980 | $48,250 | $45,730 | $49,620 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Illinois
Illinois income tax and take-home pay
Take-home figures on these pages apply Illinois's 2025 income tax rules for a single filer with the standard deduction, plus federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security and Medicare.
- $100K salary after taxes in every stateWhere Illinois ranks for take-home pay
- Median vs. average salaryWhy Illinois's median is below its average
Cost of living: Illinois vs other states
Illinois at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Illinois: questions
What is the average salary in Illinois?
$71,130 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is about the same as the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Illinois?
$51,960 a year: half of Illinois workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Illinois?
$34.20 an hour on average, and $24.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Illinois pays the most?
Chicago, with an average of $73,380 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Illinois expensive to live in?
BEA puts Illinois prices in line with the U.S. average (price parity 100.0). Within the state, Chicago 104, Kankakee 96, Bloomington 94 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Illinois.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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