Lawyers pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for lawyers is $77.31 an hour ($160,800 a year). About 33,590 people work in this job there.
That is about the same as the U.S. median ($159,670). Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for lawyers in Illinois
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $39.50 | $82,160 |
| 25% of workers | $49.53 | $103,020 |
| Half of workers (median) | $77.31 | $160,800 |
| 75% of workers | $107.91 | $224,450 |
| 90% of workers | $158.75 | $330,200 |
Lawyers pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Peoria | $161,150 | 560 |
| Springfield | $131,400 | 530 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $129,990 | 250 |
| Bloomington | $124,100 | 530 |
| Kankakee | $107,030 | 50 |
| Rockford | $103,190 | 340 |
| Decatur | $100,790 | 70 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for lawyers
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +4.7% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 28,700 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $77,010 |
| Compliance Officers | $80,550 |
| Financial Specialists, All Other | $81,180 |
| Chief Executives | $331,920 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $104,180 |
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $104,990 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.