Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2024 reference period
52 Highest Paying Jobs in Illinois (2026)
The highest-paying job in Illinois is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state-aggregated median salary of $168,230 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 1 BLS-tracked metro. Across all 52 occupations the average median is $103,440, with 28 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Illinois's average cost-of-living index is 107, so the average median equates to $96,673 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Illinois
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Illinois's single tracked metro.
State median $168,230 · 21,760 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($168,230)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Illinois earn $168,230 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $168,230 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $166,090 · 28,380 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($166,090)
Lawyers in Illinois earn $166,090 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $166,090 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $164,470 · 41,170 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($164,470)
Financial Managers in Illinois earn $164,470 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $164,470 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $158,800 · 17,970 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($158,800)
Marketing Managers in Illinois earn $158,800 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $158,800 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $147,940 · 24,390 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($147,940)
Sales Managers in Illinois earn $147,940 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $147,940 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $140,760 · 4,880 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($140,760)
Computer Network Architects in Illinois earn $140,760 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $140,760 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $137,760 · 10,990 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($137,760)
Human Resources Managers in Illinois earn $137,760 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $137,760 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $137,610 · 9,630 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($137,610)
Pharmacists in Illinois earn $137,610 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $137,610 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $135,120 · 230 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($135,120)
Software Quality Assurance Analysts in Illinois earn $135,120 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $135,120 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $131,690 · 6,930 jobs · top metro: Chicago ($131,690)
Nurse Practitioners in Illinois earn $131,690 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Chicago) pays $131,690 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 52 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $168,230 | Chicago | $168,230 | 21,760 |
| 2 | Lawyer | Legal | $166,090 | Chicago | $166,090 | 28,380 |
| 3 | Financial Manager | Finance | $164,470 | Chicago | $164,470 | 41,170 |
| 4 | Marketing Manager | Management | $158,800 | Chicago | $158,800 | 17,970 |
| 5 | Sales Manager | Management | $147,940 | Chicago | $147,940 | 24,390 |
| 6 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $140,760 | Chicago | $140,760 | 4,880 |
| 7 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $137,760 | Chicago | $137,760 | 10,990 |
| 8 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $137,610 | Chicago | $137,610 | 9,630 |
| 9 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $135,120 | Chicago | $135,120 | 230 |
| 10 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $131,690 | Chicago | $131,690 | 6,930 |
| 11 | Software Developer | Technology | $130,030 | Chicago | $130,030 | 41,320 |
| 12 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $124,350 | Chicago | $124,350 | 15,760 |
| 13 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $122,990 | Chicago | $122,990 | 3,180 |
| 14 | Management Analyst | Management | $120,140 | Chicago | $120,140 | 36,300 |
| 15 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $117,980 | Chicago | $117,980 | 1,710 |
| 16 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $116,520 | Chicago | $116,520 | 3,460 |
| 17 | Data Scientist | Technology | $112,640 | Chicago | $112,640 | 5,840 |
| 18 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $109,010 | Chicago | $109,010 | 4,340 |
| 19 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $108,640 | Chicago | $108,640 | 8,170 |
| 20 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $105,310 | Chicago | $105,310 | 121,110 |
| 21 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $104,200 | Chicago | $104,200 | 8,360 |
| 22 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $102,790 | Chicago | $102,790 | 14,970 |
| 23 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $102,360 | Chicago | $102,360 | 5,410 |
| 24 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $102,190 | Chicago | $102,190 | 2,380 |
| 25 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $102,080 | Chicago | $102,080 | 8,390 |
| 26 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,940 | Chicago | $100,940 | 10,640 |
| 27 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $100,390 | Chicago | $100,390 | 6,050 |
| 28 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $100,280 | Chicago | $100,280 | 8,870 |
| 29 | Electrician | Trades | $99,540 | Chicago | $99,540 | 16,690 |
| 30 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $99,510 | Chicago | $99,510 | 15,940 |
| 31 | Plumber | Trades | $98,890 | Chicago | $98,890 | 14,230 |
| 32 | Network Architect | Technology | $98,790 | Chicago | $98,790 | 7,370 |
| 33 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $98,030 | Chicago | $98,030 | 6,420 |
| 34 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $96,480 | Chicago | $96,480 | 100,620 |
| 35 | Web Developer | Technology | $95,060 | Chicago | $95,060 | 1,600 |
| 36 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $83,990 | Chicago | $83,990 | 7,210 |
| 37 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $81,290 | Chicago | $81,290 | 2,230 |
| 38 | Accountant | Finance | $81,210 | Chicago | $81,210 | 41,860 |
| 39 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $80,440 | Chicago | $80,440 | 34,720 |
| 40 | Architect | Engineering | $79,240 | Chicago | $79,240 | 4,920 |
| 41 | Loan Officer | Finance | $77,270 | Chicago | $77,270 | 7,040 |
| 42 | Carpenter | Trades | $76,510 | Chicago | $76,510 | 19,460 |
| 43 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $76,380 | Chicago | $76,380 | 27,750 |
| 44 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $75,020 | Chicago | $75,020 | 45,400 |
| 45 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $69,210 | Chicago | $69,210 | 8,160 |
| 46 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $69,200 | Chicago | $69,200 | 5,730 |
| 47 | Writer/Author | Creative | $69,150 | Chicago | $69,150 | 1,590 |
| 48 | Paralegal | Legal | $66,930 | Chicago | $66,930 | 10,250 |
| 49 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $63,910 | Chicago | $63,910 | 4,890 |
| 50 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $62,490 | Chicago | $62,490 | 6,080 |
| 51 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $58,340 | Chicago | $58,340 | 18,180 |
| 52 | Welder | Trades | $50,700 | Chicago | $50,700 | 9,150 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Illinois
Illinois centers on Chicago's diversified economy: finance, professional services, manufacturing, healthcare, and corporate headquarters. Cost of living near the national average makes nominal pay numbers a clean read for actual purchasing power.
$Illinois tracks $1 BLS-published metros covering approximately $890,080 workers across the $52 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Computer and Information Systems Manager top spot reflects Chicago pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Illinois typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Illinois, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Illinois is Computer and Information Systems Manager with a state median salary of $168,230. The top-paying metro for this role is Chicago at $168,230 median. The role employs roughly 21,760 workers across Illinois.
28 of the 52 BLS-tracked occupations in Illinois have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 52 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Illinois is $103,440. The figure is employment-weighted across 1 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $96,673.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Illinois, this page aggregates Chicago. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Illinois.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Illinois, using OEWS 2024 data.