Illinois Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Illinois from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $51,960 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 4.6%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $15.00/hr
- State law
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $538
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Illinois
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | 340 | $517,850 | $484,120 |
| 2 | Surgeons, All Other | 620 | $438,010 | $372,060 |
| 3 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 170 | $426,580 | $409,500 |
| 4 | Chief Executives | 4,620 | $331,920 | $347,550 |
| 5 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 6,460 | $293,490 | $316,140 |
| 6 | Nurse Anesthetists | 1,140 | $286,830 | $251,600 |
| 7 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | 620 | $284,630 | $260,500 |
| 8 | Psychiatrists | 870 | $258,740 | $269,000 |
Most common jobs in Illinois
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 195,390 | $40,550 | $42,960 |
| 2 | General and Operations Managers | 171,300 | $103,570 | $135,540 |
| 3 | Cashiers | 139,630 | $34,490 | $34,950 |
| 4 | Registered Nurses | 138,910 | $95,990 | $94,360 |
| 5 | Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 134,100 | $38,060 | $38,210 |
| 6 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 127,590 | $33,910 | $34,280 |
| 7 | Retail Salespersons | 126,610 | $35,370 | $38,680 |
| 8 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 109,240 | $37,680 | $39,990 |
Wages by metro area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)17,459 certified, median offer $108,077
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)4,298 certified, median offer $102,690
Top H-1B employers in Illinois
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grandison Management, Inc. | 845 | $71,968 |
| 2 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US Corp | 397 | $107,640 |
| 3 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 363 | $169,240 |
| 4 | Northwestern University | 245 | $70,482 |
| 5 | Medline Industries, LP. | 243 | $140,000 |
| 6 | The University of Chicago | 236 | $80,000 |
| 7 | Rivian Automotive, LLC | 234 | $122,362 |
| 8 | Capgemini America Inc | 211 | $122,477 |
More Illinois labor data
- Unemployment by county4.6% statewide
- Jobs by industry6.16 million jobs, +0.2% in a year
- Minimum wage$15.00 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$538 a week on average
- Union membership13.1% in 2025
- Federal job openings721 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Illinois?
- The median wage for all occupations in Illinois is $51,960 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Illinois?
- Illinois's unemployment rate was 4.6% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Illinois?
- Cardiologists have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Illinois: $517,850 a year.