Jobs that actually got a raise in Illinois

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in Illinois run 0.0% below the national average (2024), so a Illinois salary is worth about 1.00× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Illinois.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Illinois

OccupationMedian, Illinois · Real change since 2019

1Real Estate Sales Agents$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $79,750+55.4%+95.6% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$38,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $65,680+42.3%+79.2% nominal
3Cooks, Fast Food$34,960
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $40,580+38.5%+74.5% nominal
4Transportation Security Screeners$70,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,070 – $75,190+32.7%+67.1% nominal
5Labor Relations Specialists$104,180
Bachelor's degree
$63,150 – $144,200+32.1%+66.3% nominal
6Coaches and Scouts$49,120
Bachelor's degree
$31,200 – $122,720+31.6%+65.8% nominal
7Manicurists and Pedicurists$37,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $48,840+30.0%+63.7% nominal
8Gambling Dealers$31,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $45,000+27.9%+61.1% nominal
9Waiters and Waitresses$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $49,470+27.3%+60.2% nominal
10Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$293,490
Bachelor's degree
$166,620 – $421,610+27.2%+60.2% nominal
11Nursing Assistants$45,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,590 – $54,050+26.7%+59.5% nominal
12Bartenders$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $46,520+25.6%+58.1% nominal
13Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$34,560
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,600+25.5%+58.1% nominal
14Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$31,200
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,110+23.6%+55.7% nominal
15Counter and Rental Clerks$38,140
No formal educational credential
$31,870 – $63,500+23.5%+55.5% nominal
16Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$33,710
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $37,050+23.4%+55.3% nominal
17Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$99,840
Bachelor's degree
$50,330 – $209,840+23.1%+55.0% nominal
18Food Processing Workers, All Other$45,340
No formal educational credential
$36,710 – $50,440+22.8%+54.6% nominal
19Childcare Workers$35,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $44,980+22.5%+54.3% nominal
20Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$56,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,830 – $62,810+22.0%+53.6% nominal
21Audio and Video Technicians$60,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $108,610+21.9%+53.5% nominal
22Fast Food and Counter Workers$33,910
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $37,330+21.1%+52.5% nominal
23Interior Designers$76,290
Bachelor's degree
$44,620 – $131,990+20.5%+51.8% nominal
24Animal Caretakers$35,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $50,160+19.7%+50.7% nominal
25Cooks, Short Order$37,440
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $45,950+19.1%+50.0% nominal
26Dishwashers$36,180
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $42,270+19.0%+49.8% nominal
27Home Health and Personal Care Aides$38,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $42,500+18.7%+49.4% nominal
28Residential Advisors$44,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $58,790+18.6%+49.3% nominal
29Amusement and Recreation Attendants$32,770
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,520+18.3%+49.0% nominal
30Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$35,930
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $55,990+18.1%+48.8% nominal
31Recreation Workers$35,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $47,480+18.0%+48.6% nominal
32Cashiers$34,490
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $38,480+17.8%+48.3% nominal
33Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,880
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $56,000+17.3%+47.7% nominal
34Firefighters$78,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $106,060+17.2%+47.6% nominal
35Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $85,990+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$35,080
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $41,960+15.5%+45.5% nominal
37Medical Equipment Repairers$67,380
Associate's degree
$42,190 – $99,880+15.4%+45.3% nominal
38Pharmacy Technicians$46,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,550 – $58,260+15.4%+45.3% nominal
39Order Clerks$47,670
Some college, no degree
$36,000 – $60,630+15.3%+45.2% nominal
40Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$35,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $44,900+15.2%+45.1% nominal
41Machinists$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,390 – $78,290+14.9%+44.7% nominal
42Parking Attendants$36,730
No formal educational credential
$31,260 – $53,360+14.7%+44.4% nominal
43Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$36,380
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $49,910+14.6%+44.4% nominal
44Slaughterers and Meat Packers$44,950
No formal educational credential
$33,970 – $49,910+14.4%+44.1% nominal
45Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$35,220
No formal educational credential
$31,200 – $40,460+14.2%+43.8% nominal
46Library Technicians$47,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,780 – $63,170+14.1%+43.7% nominal
47Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,880 – $89,810+14.0%+43.6% nominal
48Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$41,050
No formal educational credential
$31,700 – $51,010+13.5%+43.0% nominal
49Respiratory Therapists$84,090
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $100,100+12.9%+42.2% nominal
50Food Service Managers$63,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $101,960+12.7%+41.9% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianIllinois	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$35,830 – $79,750	+55.4%+95.6% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,960	$31,200 – $65,680	+42.3%+79.2% nominal
3	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$34,960	$31,200 – $40,580	+38.5%+74.5% nominal
4	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,570	$45,070 – $75,190	+32.7%+67.1% nominal
5	Labor Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,180	$63,150 – $144,200	+32.1%+66.3% nominal
6	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$49,120	$31,200 – $122,720	+31.6%+65.8% nominal
7	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$37,050	$31,200 – $48,840	+30.0%+63.7% nominal
8	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31,200	$31,200 – $45,000	+27.9%+61.1% nominal
9	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $49,470	+27.3%+60.2% nominal
10	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree	$293,490	$166,620 – $421,610	+27.2%+60.2% nominal
11	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,960	$37,590 – $54,050	+26.7%+59.5% nominal
12	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $46,520	+25.6%+58.1% nominal
13	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$34,560	$31,200 – $38,600	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
14	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$31,200	$31,200 – $38,110	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
15	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$38,140	$31,870 – $63,500	+23.5%+55.5% nominal
16	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,710	$31,200 – $37,050	+23.4%+55.3% nominal
17	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$99,840	$50,330 – $209,840	+23.1%+55.0% nominal
18	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$45,340	$36,710 – $50,440	+22.8%+54.6% nominal
19	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,830	$31,200 – $44,980	+22.5%+54.3% nominal
20	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,400	$39,830 – $62,810	+22.0%+53.6% nominal
21	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,740	$31,200 – $108,610	+21.9%+53.5% nominal
22	Fast Food and Counter WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,910	$31,200 – $37,330	+21.1%+52.5% nominal
23	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$76,290	$44,620 – $131,990	+20.5%+51.8% nominal
24	Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,570	$31,200 – $50,160	+19.7%+50.7% nominal
25	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$37,440	$31,200 – $45,950	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
26	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$36,180	$31,200 – $42,270	+19.0%+49.8% nominal
27	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,060	$34,200 – $42,500	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
28	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,130	$35,090 – $58,790	+18.6%+49.3% nominal
29	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$32,770	$31,200 – $38,520	+18.3%+49.0% nominal
30	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$35,930	$31,200 – $55,990	+18.1%+48.8% nominal
31	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,480	$31,200 – $47,480	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
32	CashiersNo formal educational credential	$34,490	$31,200 – $38,480	+17.8%+48.3% nominal
33	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$38,880	$31,200 – $56,000	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
34	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,380	$38,900 – $106,060	+17.2%+47.6% nominal
35	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$47,270 – $85,990	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
36	Food Servers, NonrestaurantNo formal educational credential	$35,080	$31,200 – $41,960	+15.5%+45.5% nominal
37	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$67,380	$42,190 – $99,880	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
38	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,650	$36,550 – $58,260	+15.4%+45.3% nominal
39	Order ClerksSome college, no degree	$47,670	$36,000 – $60,630	+15.3%+45.2% nominal
40	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,410	$31,200 – $44,900	+15.2%+45.1% nominal
41	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$38,390 – $78,290	+14.9%+44.7% nominal
42	Parking AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$36,730	$31,260 – $53,360	+14.7%+44.4% nominal
43	Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$36,380	$31,200 – $49,910	+14.6%+44.4% nominal
44	Slaughterers and Meat PackersNo formal educational credential	$44,950	$33,970 – $49,910	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
45	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$35,220	$31,200 – $40,460	+14.2%+43.8% nominal
46	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,120	$33,780 – $63,170	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
47	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,000	$58,880 – $89,810	+14.0%+43.6% nominal
48	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$41,050	$31,700 – $51,010	+13.5%+43.0% nominal
49	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$84,090	$64,480 – $100,100	+12.9%+42.2% nominal
50	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,930	$36,390 – $101,960	+12.7%+41.9% nominal

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Illinois to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Illinois

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state