Illinois Salary Guide — What Every Role Pays by City
Average salary across all roles in Illinois: $55,228/yr. Highest-paying role: Operations Manager.
Last updated: 2026-07-23 · Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
Average Salary by Role in Illinois
Each figure is the average of the role's median pay across the 1 Illinois metros we track. 20 of the roles below link to a full guide with the city-by-city breakdown, career path, and negotiation numbers.
| Role | State Average Salary |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Dispatcher salary guide | $58,900 |
| Maintenance Technician salary guide | $58,020 |
| Auto Mechanic salary guide | $55,320 |
| Welder salary guide | $52,650 |
| Administrative Assistant salary guide | $50,440 |
Averages across 1 major Illinois metros. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Salary Data by Illinois City
| City | Avg Median Pay (All Roles) | Top-Paying Tracked Role |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $55,228 | Operations Manager in Chicago — $109,390 |
City averages for Illinois cover the roles with BLS OEWS May 2025 data in each metro; 1 city links to a per-role salary page.
How to use these numbers
The medians here are the middle of what employers actually pay, not the top of a range from a job ad. If an offer in Illinois comes in under the median for your role and metro, that is your opening to negotiate — bring the BLS figure, not a guess. And if a posting hides pay entirely, the per-role guides linked above show what the market rate is before you apply.