Salary distribution
Where Illinois lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Lawyers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 87 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $160,000. 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 | 34 | $100,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 17 | $150,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 16 | $235,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $322,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Lawyers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Z. Wang & Associates, P.C. | Attorney | 8 | $100,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Attorney | 5 | $260,000 |
| Sidley Austin (US) LLP | Associate Attorney | 4 | $225,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 4 | $272,500 |
| P&M LAW FIRM LLC | LEGAL RESEARCH ANALYST | 3 | $160,000 |
| Childrens Legal Center | Staff Attorney | 2 | $87,589 |
| NIJC, NFP | Senior Attorney - Detention | 2 | $77,475 |
| Mandarich Law Group, LLP | Lawyer | 2 | $165,000 |
| LEVENFELD PEARLSTEIN, LLC | CORPORATE ATTORNEY | 2 | $305,000 |
| Chicago Transit Authority | Chief Attorney | 2 | $145,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Attorney at Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LP$365,000ChicagoDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-498861
- Associate Attorney at Rock Trade Law, LLC$100,000ChicagoDecided Dec 12, 2025I-200-25339-462257
- Associate Attorney at Sidley Austin (US) LLP$225,000ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-436638
- Staff Attorney at Childrens Legal Center$87,589ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-435885
- Staff Attorney at Childrens Legal Center$87,589ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-435879
- LEGAL RESEARCH ANALYST at P&M LAW FIRM LLC$160,000CHICAGODecided Nov 20, 2025I-200-25317-405478
- Senior Director - Strategy and Legal at Coates US Inc.$232,817ChicagoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-203-25307-362424
- Senior Attorney - Detention at NIJC, NFP$87,589ChicagoDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-376781
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.
Lawyers 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.
Lawyers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 48 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $135,839.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Z. Wang & Associates, P.C. | 42 | $135,839 |
| LEGAL RESEARCH ANALYST | P&M LAW FIRM LLC | 3 | $160,000 |
| Lawyer | Mandarich Law Group, LLP | 3 | $102,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 87 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $160,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Z. Wang & Associates, P.C. | 78 | $160,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Childrens Legal Center | 2 | $87,589 |
| Manufacturing | Coates US Inc. | 2 | $159,818 |
| Technology and software | Amount, Inc. | 2 | $180,759 |
| Transportation and logistics | Chicago Transit Authority | 2 | $145,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Medline Industries, LP. | 1 | $220,000 |
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
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.7 / 5
Law and Government
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.6 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- 02
Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- 03
Select jurors, argue motions, meet with judges, and question witnesses during the course of a trial.
- 04
Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- 05
Present evidence to defend clients or prosecute defendants in criminal or civil litigation.
- 06
Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
- 07
Work in environmental law, representing public interest groups, waste disposal companies, or construction firms in their dealings with state and federal agencies.
- 08
Present and summarize cases to judges and juries.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$166,090
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Lawyers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Illinois is $157,320.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Illinois median is +5.2% versus the BLS national figure of $149,496.
- Is Lawyers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Lawyers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional 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.