Lawyer salary in Illinois
Lawyers in Illinois earn a median of $160,800 a year ($77.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 33,590 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $330,200 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $159,670. Illinois ranks 10th of 51 states for lawyers pay. There are 5.5 lawyers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $181,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for lawyers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| 25th percentile | $103,020 | $49.53 |
| Median | $160,800 | $77.31 |
| 75th percentile | $224,450 | $107.91 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $330,200 | $158.75 |
| Average (mean) | $181,240 | $87.14 |
Half of lawyers 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 | $13,400 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,700 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,184.62 |
| Weekly | $3,092.31 |
| Hourly | $77.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Lawyer salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $165,660 | 28,320 |
| Peoria, IL | $161,150 | 560 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $142,690 | 6,100 |
| Springfield, IL | $131,400 | 530 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $129,990 | 250 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $124,850 | 420 |
| Bloomington, IL | $124,100 | 530 |
| Kankakee, IL | $107,030 | 50 |
| Rockford, IL | $103,190 | 340 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,790 | 70 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $96,960 | 150 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $94,600 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for lawyers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $207,860 |
| District of Columbia | $195,190 |
| California | $195,080 |
| Massachusetts | $176,680 |
| Delaware | $173,510 |
| Colorado | $168,520 |
| Virginia | $167,210 |
| Connecticut | $163,600 |
| New Jersey | $161,430 |
| Illinois | $160,800 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $104,990 | $50.48 |
| Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators | $162,410 | $78.08 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $63,670 | $30.61 |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | $63,250 | $30.41 |
| Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers | $49,990 | $24.03 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 23-1011. 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 lawyer make in Illinois?
The median salary for lawyers in Illinois is $160,800 a year, or $77.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $330,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid lawyers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of lawyers in Illinois earn at least $330,200 a year. The top 25% earn $224,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for lawyers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,160 a year, and a quarter of lawyers earn $103,020 or less.
How many lawyers work in Illinois?
About 33,590 lawyers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.