Illinois Average Salary 2026
Average pay, top-paying occupations, and cost of living across Illinois.
The average salary in Illinois is $103,440 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS 2024 data aggregated across 1 metropolitan areas (Chicago). The highest-paying tracked occupation in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $168,230 median; 28 occupations pay six-figure ($100K+) medians. Adjusted for the state's average cost-of-living index of 107, the average median equates to $96,673 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Illinois
Computer and Information Systems Manager
Technology · 21,760 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($168,230)
Lawyer
Legal · 28,380 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($166,090)
Financial Manager
Finance · 41,170 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($164,470)
Marketing Manager
Management · 17,970 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($158,800)
Sales Manager
Management · 24,390 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($147,940)
Computer Network Architect
Technology · 4,880 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($140,760)
Human Resources Manager
Management · 10,990 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($137,760)
Pharmacist
Healthcare · 9,630 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($137,610)
Software Quality Assurance Analyst
Technology · 230 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($135,120)
Nurse Practitioner
Healthcare · 6,930 jobs in state · top metro: Chicago ($131,690)
Cities in Illinois
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary in Illinois is $103,440 as of 2026, based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' OEWS 2024 release aggregated across 1 BLS-tracked metros. The figure is employment-weighted, so larger occupations contribute proportionally more to the average. The top-paying role in the state is Computer and Information Systems Manager at $168,230 median.
The top five highest-paying occupations in Illinois, ranked by employment-weighted median across all tracked metros, are Computer and Information Systems Manager ($168,230), Lawyer ($166,090), Financial Manager ($164,470), Marketing Manager ($158,800), Sales Manager ($147,940). See the full ranking at /ranking/highest-paying-jobs/state/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.
Chicago, IL leads Illinois with an average median salary of $103,440 across 52 BLS-tracked occupations.
The average cost-of-living index across Illinois's tracked metros is 107 (national avg = 100). The state average median of $103,440 translates to $96,673 of purchasing power in an average-cost U.S. metro. COL is roughly in line with the national average.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Illinois, using the OEWS 2024 reference period.
52 data points · BLS OEWS 2024 · last refreshed 2026-05-08