Illinois wages
Midwest region · all-occupation average · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Across all occupations, Illinois has a median annual wage of $50,000 and a mean of $69,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2024) — +1.0% versus the $49,500 US median. That makes it #14 of 51 states by mean wage. About 6,065,230 people are employed here. The highest-paying tracked job in Illinois is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($239,200+ median). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer and experience.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Common jobs in Illinois: pay vs the US
Median annual wage in Illinois for widely-searched occupations, next to the national median:
| Occupation | Illinois median | US median | Illinois jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $127,770 | $133,080 | 54,490 |
| Registered Nurses | $86,410 | $93,600 | 139,900 |
| Electricians | $96,360 | $62,350 | 22,880 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,790 | $57,440 | 76,650 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,300 | $81,680 | 54,690 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,160 | $62,340 | 61,000 |
| Lawyers | $157,320 | $151,160 | 33,430 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $96,200 | $62,970 | 18,730 |
| Pharmacists | $135,880 | $137,480 | 12,450 |
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $101,530 | $76,290 | 29,790 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Software Developers · Registered Nurses · Electricians · Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers · Accountants and Auditors · Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education · Lawyers · Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters · Pharmacists · Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
Highest-paying tracked jobs in Illinois
The best-paid of the 124 curated occupations in Illinois, by median wage:
| # | Occupation | Median | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $239,200+ | $296,570 |
| 2 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $234,880 | $255,550 |
| 3 | Family Medicine Physicians | $220,260 | $206,010 |
| 4 | Dentists, General | $180,420 | $184,490 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $165,720 | $168,630 |
| 6 | Financial Managers | $159,990 | $177,310 |
| 7 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $157,480 | $161,530 |
| 8 | Lawyers | $157,320 | $177,740 |
| 9 | Marketing Managers | $154,480 | $158,900 |
| 10 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $136,440 | $123,850 |
| 11 | Pharmacists | $135,880 | $136,050 |
| 12 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | $135,120 | $129,370 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average wage in Illinois?
The median annual wage across all occupations in Illinois is $50,000 and the mean is $69,020 (BLS OEWS, May 2024), which is +1.0% versus the US median of $49,500. Illinois ranks #14 of 51 states by mean wage.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Illinois?
Among tracked occupations, the highest-paying in Illinois include Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($239,200+), General Internal Medicine Physicians ($234,880), Family Medicine Physicians ($220,260). See the full list on this page.
Are Illinois wages before or after tax?
These are gross wages from the BLS OEWS survey, before income and payroll tax. Illinois's state income tax (if any), federal tax and deductions reduce take-home pay. Use a paycheck calculator for after-tax figures.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024, gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. These are statewide survey estimates before tax; pay varies by metro, employer and experience, and cost of living differs widely within Illinois. Information only, not financial advice. See our methodology.
Last updated: 2026-06-20