Lawyer Salary in Chicago, IL
Lawyers in Chicago, IL earn a median of $165,660/year, ranging from $106,980 (25th percentile) to $331,140 (90th percentile). Prices in the area were 3.6% above the national level in 2024 (BEA regional price parity 103.6), so at national-average prices that median is equivalent to $159,911.
1Salary Distribution in Chicago, IL
2Pay Adjusted for Local Prices
Price level: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, regional price parity (all items) for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area, 2024. The adjustment covers prices only, not taxes. Use the Salary Calculator to compare two areas.
How Does Chicago, IL Compare?
| City | Median | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL (current) | $165,660 | 103.6 | $159,911 |
| San Francisco, CA | $212,500 | 115.6 | $183,803 |
| New York, NY | $208,880 | 112.6 | $185,567 |
| Seattle, WA | $164,980 | 111.1 | $148,453 |
| Boston, MA | $183,350 | 108.3 | $169,351 |
| Austin, TX | $153,330 | 98.1 | $156,354 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Lawyer salary in Chicago, IL?
The median Lawyer salary in Chicago, IL is $165,660 per year, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The 25th percentile is $106,980 and the 90th percentile is $331,140.
How far does a Lawyer salary go in Chicago, IL?
Prices in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area were 3.6% above the national level in 2024: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis puts its regional price parity at 103.6, where the United States is 100. Restated at national-average prices, the $165,660 median Lawyer wage is $159,911.
What is the price level in Chicago, IL?
The regional price parity for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area was 103.6 in 2024 (United States = 100), which is 3.6% above the national level. It is the all-items index published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
What is the Lawyer salary range in Chicago, IL?
In Chicago, IL, Lawyers earn between $106,980 (25th percentile) and $331,140 (90th percentile), with a median of $165,660 per year.
How many Lawyer jobs are there in Chicago, IL?
BLS OEWS May 2025 estimates put employment at 28,320 Lawyer positions in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area.
What do Lawyers earn in Chicago, IL?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data, Lawyers in Chicago, IL earn a median annual wage of $165,660. The middle 50% earn between $106,980 and $232,270. The top 10% earn more than $331,140.There are approximately 28,320 Lawyers employed in the Chicago, IL metro area.
How do prices in Chicago, IL affect a Lawyer salary?
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis publishes a regional price parity for each metropolitan area. In its words: “Regional price parities (RPPs) measure the differences in price levels across states and metropolitan areas for a given year and are expressed as a percentage of the overall national price level.” For the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area the 2024 figure is 103.6, which is 3.6% above the national level. Dividing the $165,660 median wage by that price level gives $159,911at national-average prices. The adjustment uses BEA's all-items index and covers prices only, not taxes.
Compare Chicago, IL with Another City
See a side-by-side comparison of wages and local price levels.
5More Lawyer Wage Data
Other metro areas for the same occupation: San Francisco, CA ($212,500 median, price level 115.6); New York, NY ($208,880 median, price level 112.6); Seattle, WA ($164,980 median, price level 111.1). The table above restates each median at national-average prices.
For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Lawyers or the Illinois state overview.
Underlying wage source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. Figures are U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates (annual wages: median and 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles; employment) for BLS occupation "Lawyers" (23-1011) in the metropolitan statistical area named in this source line, retrieved 2026-10-02. BLS area: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Price levels: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, regional price parities (all items) for 2024, tables last updated February 19, 2026. See our data disclaimer.