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 — May 2025
| Percentile | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $32K | $31K |
| 25th | $38K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $52K | $51K |
| 75th | $82K | $81K |
| 90th | $131K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 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 $52K, 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 $52K based on May 2025 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.
What is the average salary in Illinois?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Illinois workers earn more and half earn less. The Illinois median is $52K, above the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median