verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

Paralegal Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$63,670/yr
Median Hourly Wage
$30.61/hr
▲ 1% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
14,130
public U.S. Median
$62,890
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$63,697 #27 of 51

Paralegal pay in Illinois, explained

Paralegals in Illinois earn a median of $63,670 per year ($30.61 per hour), which is 1% above the national median of $62,890. Entry-level workers earn around $46,860, while the most experienced paralegals reach about $104,580. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $63,670 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $63,670 is worth about $63,697 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #27 for real pay (vs #15 on the sticker number).

See the full Paralegal Real Pay Index arrow_forward

Paralegal pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$46,860
$22.53/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$63,670
$30.61/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$104,580
$50.28/hr

Paralegal pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $63,670 $63,697
Missouri $61,410 $67,619 +$2,260
Kentucky $59,830 $66,361 +$3,840
Wisconsin $58,500 $62,171 +$5,170
Indiana $57,030 $61,106 +$6,640
Iowa $54,550 $62,157 +$9,120

Paralegal in Illinois: FAQ

How much do paralegals make in Illinois?

Paralegals in Illinois earn a median of $63,670 per year ($30.61 per hour), compared with $62,890 nationally.

Does Illinois pay paralegals well?

At $63,670, Illinois pays 1% above the national median for paralegals. An estimated 14,130 work in the state.

Paralegal salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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