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Lawyer Salary in Illinois
In May 2024, lawyers in Illinois earned a median annual wage of $157,320 ($75.63 an hour) and a mean annual wage of $177,740, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey. BLS counted 33,430 lawyers working in Illinois — about 4.5% of the 747,750 such jobs in the United States. This page breaks down how that pay compares with the national figures for the occupation, where Illinois ranks among all states, and how pay is spread from entry-level to top earners inside the state. For wider context, the U.S. all-occupation median wage in the same survey was $23.80 an hour; the Illinois page linked below puts this occupation alongside every other job BLS publishes for the state.
How Illinois ranks for lawyer pay
Among the 50 states and areas where BLS publishes a median for this occupation, Illinois ranks #10 for lawyer pay. The Illinois median of $157,320 is 4.1% higher than the national median of $151,160, and the state mean of $177,740 compares with a national mean of $182,760 (2.7% lower). The highest-paying state, California, posts a median of $197,790, so Illinois sits $40,470 behind the top of the market. For a lawyer weighing a move, that gap has to be set against Illinois's housing and living costs, which this wage survey does not measure.
The pay spread inside Illinois
Not every lawyer in Illinois earns the median. The lowest-paid 10% earned $73,500 or less in May 2024, and the bottom quarter earned $101,050 or less. At the top of the distribution, the highest-paid quarter earned at least $218,090 and the top 10% earned at least $239,200+. Experience, employer type, shift and overtime patterns, and metro-versus-rural location all push individual pay toward one end of that range. Statewide, the occupation is also a meaningful part of the Illinois job market: by employment it ranks #39 among the occupations BLS publishes for the state — see the full Illinois salary page for the state's complete tables.
Lawyer pay in Illinois at a glance
| Measure | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $157,320 | $151,160 |
| Mean annual wage | $177,740 | $182,760 |
| Median hourly wage | $75.63 | $72.67 |
| 10th percentile | $73,500 | $72,780 |
| 25th percentile | $101,050 | $99,760 |
| 75th percentile | $218,090 | $215,420 |
| 90th percentile | $239,200+ | $239,200+ |
| Employment | 33,430 | 747,750 |
For the full state-by-state picture of this occupation, see the Lawyers salary by state page. For every occupation's pay in this state, see average salary in Illinois.
Lawyer in Illinois FAQ
How much do lawyers make in Illinois?
The median wage for lawyers in Illinois was $157,320 a year ($75.63 an hour) in May 2024, and the mean was $177,740, across 33,430 jobs.
Is Illinois a good-paying state for lawyers?
Illinois ranks #10 of 50 published states and areas for lawyer median pay. Its median of $157,320 is 4.1% higher than the national median of $151,160.
How many lawyers work in Illinois?
BLS estimated 33,430 lawyers jobs in Illinois in May 2024 — about 4.5% of the 747,750 such jobs nationwide.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Figures checked October 2026.