Human Resources Specialist salary in Kankakee, IL
Human Resources Specialists in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn a median of $63,720 a year ($30.63 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $44,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,630 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $75,940. Pay here is 17% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $76,820. There are 3.9 human resources specialists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.66). The average (mean) salary is $67,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for human resources specialists in Kankakee, IL
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,440 | $21.37 |
| 25th percentile | $52,030 | $25.01 |
| Median | $63,720 | $30.63 |
| 75th percentile | $75,090 | $36.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,630 | $47.90 |
| Average (mean) | $67,550 | $32.48 |
Half of human resources specialists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,310 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,655 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,450.77 |
| Weekly | $1,225.38 |
| Hourly | $30.63 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Human Resources Specialist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $79,670 | 1,420 |
| Springfield, IL | $78,840 | 950 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $78,210 | 26,470 |
| Bloomington, IL | $74,210 | 510 |
| Peoria, IL | $74,020 | 890 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $71,670 | 8,130 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $67,360 | 540 |
| Rockford, IL | $65,490 | 650 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $64,500 | 210 |
| Decatur, IL | $63,700 | 140 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $60,660 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for human resources specialists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $110,970 |
| Massachusetts | $85,630 |
| Washington | $84,550 |
| New York | $84,380 |
| Maryland | $83,910 |
| California | $83,500 |
| Connecticut | $82,890 |
| Virginia | $82,090 |
| Colorado | $80,840 |
| New Jersey | $80,690 |
See Human Resources Specialist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Kankakee, IL
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $80,020 | $38.47 |
| Training and Development Specialists | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Buyers and Purchasing Agents | $65,490 | $31.49 |
| Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $56,110 | $26.97 |
| Project Management Specialist | $95,790 | $46.05 |
| Cost Estimator | $75,230 | $36.17 |
| Compliance Officer | $76,530 | $36.80 |
| Logistician | $77,460 | $37.24 |
| Management Analyst | $83,650 | $40.22 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $71,610 | $34.43 |
| Loan Officer | $62,570 | $30.08 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $84,370 | $40.56 |
More: Business and Financial Operations Occupations · all salaries in Kankakee, IL
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 13-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a human resources specialist make in Kankakee, IL?
The median salary for human resources specialists in the Kankakee, IL metro area is $63,720 a year, or $30.63 an hour. Pay ranges from $44,440 for the lowest-paid 10% to $99,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid human resources specialists make in Kankakee, IL?
The top 10% of human resources specialists in the Kankakee, IL metro area earn at least $99,630 a year. The top 25% earn $75,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for human resources specialists in Kankakee, IL?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $44,440 a year, and a quarter of human resources specialists earn $52,030 or less.
How many human resources specialists work in Kankakee, IL?
About 160 human resources specialists are employed in the Kankakee, IL metro area, not counting the self-employed.