Average Salary in Illinois: Top Cities, Jobs, and Industries in 2025

Whether you’re planning a move to Illinois or considering a new job opportunity within the state, understanding the current wage landscape can help guide your decision. In 2025, the average salary in Illinois reflects steady growth across several industries, especially in healthcare, tech, manufacturing, and finance.

This article explores average incomes across major cities, highlights high-paying job roles, and breaks down earnings by key industries in Illinois.

What Is the Average Salary in Illinois in 2025?

As of mid-2025, the average annual salary in Illinois is approximately $63,800, slightly higher than the national average of around $62,000. However, earnings vary significantly by location, job role, and industry.

Top Cities in Illinois by Average Salary

Salaries tend to be higher in metro areas due to cost of living and demand for specialized skills. Here’s how some of Illinois’s top cities compare:

City	Average Salary (2025)
Chicago	$72,500
Naperville	$70,200
Springfield	$60,300
Rockford	$58,400
Peoria	$61,800
Champaign	$59,000

Chicago, as the state’s economic hub, offers the highest earning potential across multiple sectors, including finance, healthcare, law, and tech.

Top-Paying Jobs in Illinois (2025)

Certain occupations command much higher wages than the state average. In 2025, the top earners in Illinois typically fall into the following categories:

Occupation	Average Salary
Surgeons	$282,000+
Software Architects	$150,000+
Corporate Lawyers	$160,000+
Data Scientists	$135,000+
Financial Managers	$130,000+
Engineering Managers	$125,000+
Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)	$190,000+

These roles usually require advanced education or years of experience, but they also offer long-term career stability and growth.

Highest-Paying Industries in Illinois

Illinois’s diverse economy supports a wide range of high-paying industries. As of 2025, these sectors offer the strongest average compensation:

1. Healthcare

• Illinois continues to see a strong demand for medical professionals.
• Surgeons, specialized nurses, and health administrators earn some of the highest salaries in the state.

2. Information Technology

• Tech companies in Chicago and Champaign are expanding, with roles in AI, cloud computing, and cybersecurity seeing double-digit salary growth.

3. Finance & Insurance

• Chicago’s status as a financial center drives demand for financial analysts, underwriters, and risk managers.

4. Manufacturing & Engineering

• Illinois’s central location makes it a leader in manufacturing, especially in machinery, food processing, and chemicals.

5. Legal Services

• Legal professionals in metropolitan areas, particularly those in corporate law or litigation, continue to earn well above the state average.

Salary Growth Outlook for 2025 and Beyond

Illinois is expected to see continued wage growth in line with national trends, especially in fields driven by:

• Technology and automation
• Healthcare services
• Renewable energy and environmental engineering

Additionally, remote work flexibility in tech, marketing, and design roles is leading to higher-paying opportunities even outside the Chicago metro area.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re pursuing a high-paying career in Chicago’s finance sector or considering a move to a mid-sized city like Peoria or Champaign, Illinois offers diverse economic opportunities in 2025.

By understanding the state’s salary trends by location and industry, job seekers and professionals can make informed decisions about their career paths.

If you’re planning a move or job switch in Illinois, researching local market conditions and in-demand skills can give you a competitive edge.

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