Jobs in Illinois — Pay & Openings by City
1,843,410 professionals employed across 1 major Illinois metro areas (BLS OEWS May 2025). Average salary: $55,228/yr. Top hiring industry: Finance.
Last updated: 2026-07-23
Top Industries in Illinois
Finance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Transportation are the largest employment sectors in Illinois.
The highest-paying role statewide is typically Operations Manager.
Jobs in Illinois by City
Every metro below shows the average median pay and total employment across the 46 roles we track from BLS OEWS May 2025 data, plus links to the biggest role hubs by employment.
| City | Avg Median Pay | People Employed | Biggest Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $55,228 | 1,843,410 | Warehouse Associate jobs · Operations Manager jobs · Home Health Aide jobs |
This hub links 3 role hubs across 1 Illinois metros. Employment = BLS OEWS May 2025, not live openings.
Top-Paying Roles in Illinois
State averages across the Illinois metros above. Each linked guide breaks the number down city by city and links to live openings you can apply to.
| Role | Illinois Average Median |
|---|---|
| Operations Manager salary guide | $109,390 |
| Plumber salary guide | $103,380 |
| Electrician salary guide | $102,350 |
| Registered Nurse salary guide | $100,490 |
| Dental Hygienist salary guide | $100,260 |
| Carpenter salary guide | $80,440 |
| Logistics Coordinator salary guide | $79,900 |
| HVAC Technician salary guide | $77,960 |
| Sales Representative salary guide | $70,710 |
| Warehouse Supervisor salary guide | $68,330 |
| Diesel Mechanic salary guide | $65,680 |
| Bus Driver salary guide | $65,200 |
| Truck Driver salary guide | $62,300 |
| Painter salary guide | $61,740 |
| Construction Laborer salary guide | $60,890 |
15 of these roles have full salary guides. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.