Lawyers in Illinois. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Illinois lawyers earned a median of $157,320 in 2024, about 5% above the national median of $149,496. That gap is real but modest. Illinois is not an outlier the way California or New York tends to be for this occupation.
The spread across the state tells a more interesting story. The bottom tenth of earners made $73,500. The top quarter crossed $218,090. That is a $144,590 gap between the 25th and 75th percentiles alone. Law in Illinois covers a wide range of practice settings and specialties, and the wage data reflects that range directly.
Illinois has a cost-of-living index right at 99.5, effectively at the national baseline. That means the nominal premium over the US median is close to the real one. A lawyer earning the Illinois median is not trading dollars for a higher cost of living the way a peer in San Francisco or Boston would be. What the paycheck says is roughly what it buys.
BLS projects average growth for this occupation nationally through 2034, at 4.2% over the decade. That is broadly in line with total employment growth, not a standout in either direction.
One thing worth noting: Illinois employs 33,430 lawyers, which reflects the concentration of legal services in Chicago alongside state government, regulatory, and corporate legal work across the state. That scale of employment tends to pull in both ends of the wage range, which may partly explain why the spread here is as wide as the data shows.
Salary distribution
Where Illinois lawyers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $103,020 and $224,450, with a median of $160,800.
Lawyers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 101 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $175,000. 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 | 48 | $100,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 22 | $165,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 21 | $240,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 9 | $325,000 |
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 | 7 | $100,000 |
| Kirkland & Ellis LLP | Associate | 6 | $310,000 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | Attorney | 6 | $277,000 |
| Sidley Austin (US) LLP | Associate Attorney | 5 | $225,000 |
| Mandarich Law Group, LLP | Lawyer | 3 | $90,000 |
| Mayer Brown LLP | Associate | 3 | $420,000 |
| P&M LAW FIRM LLC | LEGAL RESEARCH ANALYST | 3 | $160,000 |
| Paul Hastings LLP | Associate | 3 | $225,000 |
| Arch & Lake LLP | Associate Attorney | 2 | $215,000 |
| 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.
- Attorney at Siri & Glimstad, LLP$110,000ChicagoWage Level IDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-683824
- Attorney at Latham & Watkins LLP$310,000ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Mar 9, 2026I-200-26061-673997
- Senior Manager [Sr. Legal Counsel] at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Services, LLC$200,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-666182
- Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP$310,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Mar 5, 2026I-200-26057-667572
- Law Clerk/Associate at White & Case LLP$225,000ChicagoWage Level IDecided Feb 23, 2026I-200-26044-641328
- Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP$365,000ChicagoWage Level IIIDecided Feb 17, 2026I-200-26040-628893
- Associate at Mayer Brown LLP$420,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Feb 9, 2026I-200-26033-613053
- Associate at Mayer Brown LLP$420,000ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-606869
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.
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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 53 certified offers. The most common variant is Associate Attorney at a median of $136,677.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Attorney | Latham & Watkins LLP | 47 | $136,677 |
| Lawyer | Mandarich Law Group, LLP | 3 | $102,000 |
| LEGAL RESEARCH ANALYST | P&M LAW FIRM LLC | 3 | $160,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Lawyers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 101 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $180,003.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Z. Wang & Associates, P.C. | 91 | $180,003 |
| Manufacturing | Coates US Inc. | 2 | $159,818 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Children’s Legal Center | 2 | $87,589 |
| Technology and software | ActiveCampaign, LLC | 2 | $180,759 |
| Transportation and logistics | Chicago Transit Authority | 2 | $145,000 |
| Finance and insurance | HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORPORATION | 1 | $136,677 |
| 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 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for lawyers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$165,660
Compare Lawyers pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Illinois with another state
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 $160,800.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Lawyers?
- The Illinois median is +0.9% versus the BLS national figure of $159,328.
- What is the salary range for Lawyers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $82,160 and the 90th-percentile at $330,200, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- 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.