Salary distribution
Where Illinois economists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $82,210 and $150,900, with a median of $112,790.
Economists in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 65 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $116,733. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 27 | $87,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 21 | $160,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $180,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $240,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Economists in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Brattle Group | Research Analyst | 10 | $103,164 |
| Cornerstone Research, Inc. | Associate | 9 | $195,000 |
| CRA International, Inc. | Associate Principal - Competition | 7 | $113,000 |
| Analysis Group, Inc. | Analyst | 6 | $101,250 |
| Compass Lexecon LLC | Senior Economist | 5 | $190,000 |
| Econic Partners US LLC | Associate Economist | 4 | $340,000 |
| The University of Chicago | Senior Research Associate | 3 | $115,000 |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | Economist | 3 | $213,000 |
| AECOM Technical Services, Inc. | Graduate Analyst | 2 | $73,190 |
| Northwestern University | Postdoctoral Fellow | 2 | $75,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Economist at Econic Partners US LLC$4,550,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-324694
- Senior Research Associate at The University of Chicago$116,733ChicagoWage Level IDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312083
- Associate at Cornerstone Research, Inc.$265,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312920
- Associate Principal - Competition at CRA International, Inc.$240,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-311974
- Senior Economic Research Economist at Econic Partners US LLC$175,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Sep 19, 2025I-200-25255-305055
- Research Associate at Cornerstone Research, Inc.$160,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 27, 2025I-200-25232-254255
- Research Associate at Cornerstone Research, Inc.$160,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 18, 2025I-200-25223-234472
- Economist at Compass Lexecon LLC$165,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-204358
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Economists pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Economists specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 35 certified offers. The most common variant is Economist at a median of $177,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economist | Econic Partners US LLC | 12 | $177,500 |
| Analyst | Analysis Group, Inc. | 8 | $101,250 |
| Research Analyst | The Brattle Group | 7 | $95,520 |
| Research Associate | Cornerstone Research, Inc. | 5 | $160,000 |
| Associate Principal - Competition | CRA International, Inc. | 3 | $240,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Economists in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 65 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $123,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | The Brattle Group | 49 | $123,000 |
| Education | The University of Chicago | 7 | $111,384 |
| Finance and insurance | Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | 4 | $214,350 |
| Nonprofit and civic | American Medical Association | 2 | $99,720 |
| Media and entertainment | Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team, Inc. | 1 | $135,200 |
| Technology and software | VIA TRANSPORTATION, INC. | 1 | $80,000 |
| Energy and utilities | RWE Clean Energy Services, LLC | 1 | $85,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- 02
Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
- 03
Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- 04
Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
- 05
Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
- 06
Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- 07
Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
- 08
Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+1.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Economists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for economists in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$123,140
Compare Economists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Economists in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Economists in Illinois is $112,790.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Economists?
- The Illinois median is -5.4% versus the BLS national figure of $119,230.
- What is the salary range for Economists in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $66,930 and the 90th-percentile at $225,440, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Economists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 1.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Economists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.