Lawyer salary in Illinois
The median annual wage for lawyers in Illinois is $160,800, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025 estimates — above the national median of $159,670. Illinois ranks 10 of 50 states and DC with published data for this occupation.
Median
$160,800
25th percentile
$103,020
75th percentile
$224,450
90th percentile
$330,200
Employment and national comparison
| Employment in Illinois | 33,590 |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage in Illinois | $181,240 |
| National median | $159,670 |
| National employment | 754,500 |
Metro areas in Illinois
- Chicago, IL: median $165,660
States with similar pay for lawyers
- New Jersey: median $161,430
- Connecticut: median $163,600
- Pennsylvania: median $157,180
- Minnesota: median $155,140
- Virginia: median $167,210
- Texas: median $154,200
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates; state, metropolitan area and national files from https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm. State estimates are for BLS occupation "Lawyers" (23-1011), cross-industry, all ownerships. Retrieved 2026-10-02. Where BLS does not publish a numeric estimate (suppressed, or reported only as at or above $239,200) the value is shown as —.