Illinois has a state income tax rate of up to 4.95%. The highest paying profession in Illinois is Surgeon at $380,400/year. Select any profession below for a full city, experience and take-home pay breakdown.
The table below shows median annual salaries for 50+ professions in Illinois, ranked from highest to lowest. All figures are sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2024 release, refreshed for 2026. Click any profession for a full breakdown including city-level data, experience levels and a take-home pay calculator.
| Profession | Category | Annual Median | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | Healthcare | $380,400 | $182.88 |
| Pilot | Transport | $215,600 | $103.65 |
| Software Developer | Technology | $142,850 | $68.68 |
| Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $140,400 | $67.50 |
| Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $133,900 | $64.38 |
| Financial Advisor | Finance | $107,550 | $51.71 |
| Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $105,550 | $50.75 |
| Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $104,100 | $50.05 |
| Network Administrator | Technology | $100,250 | $48.20 |
| Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $87,900 | $42.26 |
| Accountant | Finance | $86,250 | $41.47 |
| Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $83,800 | $40.29 |
| Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $75,300 | $36.20 |
| Police Officer | Public Safety | $74,700 | $35.91 |
| Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $74,400 | $35.77 |
| Plumber | Trades | $68,600 | $32.98 |
| School Counselor | Education | $68,500 | $32.93 |
| Teacher | Education | $66,750 | $32.09 |
| Electrician | Trades | $66,500 | $31.97 |
| Librarian | Education | $66,100 | $31.78 |
| Court Reporter | Legal | $65,950 | $31.71 |
| Paralegal | Legal | $63,950 | $30.75 |
| HVAC Technician | Trades | $61,900 | $29.76 |
| Real Estate Agent | Business | $61,150 | $29.40 |
| Firefighter | Public Safety | $60,800 | $29.23 |
| Sheet Metal Worker | Trades | $60,750 | $29.21 |
| Truck Driver | Transport | $58,650 | $28.20 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Healthcare | $58,550 | $28.15 |
| Carpenter | Trades | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Correctional Officer | Public Safety | $57,100 | $27.45 |
| Social Worker | Social Services | $55,900 | $26.88 |
| Mason | Trades | $54,450 | $26.18 |
| Roofer | Trades | $54,050 | $25.99 |
| Paramedic | Public Safety | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| Solar Installer | Trades | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| Bookkeeper | Business | $51,050 | $24.54 |
| Welder | Trades | $50,750 | $24.40 |
| Dispatcher | Transport | $50,650 | $24.35 |
| Painter | Trades | $50,600 | $24.33 |
| Bus Driver | Transport | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Delivery Driver | Transport | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Dental Assistant | Healthcare | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $43,950 | $21.13 |
| Pharmacy Technician | Healthcare | $43,500 | $20.91 |
| EMT | Public Safety | $41,950 | $20.17 |
| Veterinary Technician | Healthcare | $41,950 | $20.17 |
| Cosmetologist | Personal Services | $36,100 | $17.36 |
| Teaching Assistant | Education | $33,950 | $16.32 |