Illinois Salary Percentile
Calculator
Illinois has a flat income tax of 4.95% and a diverse economy spanning finance, manufacturing, healthcare, and technology. Chicago anchors the state economy, with wages in the metro area well above rural downstate Illinois.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Illinois salary percentiles — 2024
| Percentile | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $16K | $15K |
| 25th | $27K | $26K |
| 50th (median)median | $62K | $59K |
| 75th | $102K | $97K |
| 90th | $152K | $145K |
| 95th | $210K | $200K |
| 99th | $368K | $350K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS 2024 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax. Chicago's median wage is roughly 20% above the state median of $62K, reflecting the economic concentration in the metro area.
Illinois salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Illinois?
The median annual salary in Illinois is approximately $62K based on 2024 BLS data. Chicago dominates the state economy, and its higher wages lift the state median well above downstate Illinois, where wages align more closely with Midwest averages.
What is considered a good salary in Chicago?
In Chicago, $75,000-$85,000 is considered a comfortable single salary. Chicago's cost of living is lower than New York or San Francisco but higher than most Midwest cities. Housing costs are the primary differentiator — downtown Chicago is expensive, while suburbs and neighborhoods further from the loop offer more value.
How does Illinois compare to other Midwest states for salaries?
Illinois has the highest median salary of the major Midwest states, driven by Chicago's finance, tech, and healthcare sectors. Minnesota ($64,000 median) and Ohio ($54,000 median) are common comparisons. Illinois wages are competitive nationally but the combination of state income tax and cost of living in Chicago reduces effective purchasing power.
What are the highest-paying industries in Illinois?
Finance and insurance (particularly commodities trading on the CME), healthcare, technology, and manufacturing are the top-paying industries in Illinois. The Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange create high concentrations of finance workers earning $100,000-$500,000+. Tech salaries in Chicago have also grown rapidly over the past decade.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$48K median
Alaska
$62K median
Arizona
$58K median
Arkansas
$46K median
California
$72K median
Colorado
$67K median
Connecticut
$70K median
Delaware
$62K median
Florida
$55K median
Georgia
$55K median
Hawaii
$60K median
Idaho
$52K median
Illinois
$62K median
Indiana
$52K median
Iowa
$55K median
Kansas
$52K median
Kentucky
$49K median
Louisiana
$48K median
Maine
$55K median
Maryland
$68K median
Massachusetts
$75K median
Michigan
$55K median
Minnesota
$64K median
Mississippi
$43K median
Missouri
$52K median
Montana
$50K median
Nebraska
$55K median
Nevada
$55K median
New Hampshire
$68K median
New Jersey
$70K median
New Mexico
$49K median
New York
$68K median
North Carolina
$56K median
North Dakota
$55K median
Ohio
$54K median
Oklahoma
$48K median
Oregon
$63K median
Pennsylvania
$58K median
Rhode Island
$62K median
South Carolina
$50K median
South Dakota
$48K median
Tennessee
$52K median
Texas
$58K median
Utah
$60K median
Vermont
$57K median
Virginia
$65K median
Washington
$74K median
Washington D.C.
$85K median
West Virginia
$44K median
Wisconsin
$57K median
Wyoming
$55K median