Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Illinois

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Dentists, General$156,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$123,920 – $291,530-27.4%-8.6% nominal
2Operations Research Analysts$89,800
Bachelor's degree
$62,500 – $164,990-26.4%-7.3% nominal
3Chiropractors$66,650
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,630 – $136,330-26.2%-7.1% nominal
4Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,300
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280-23.0%-3.1% nominal
5Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary$77,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,930 – $130,950-21.4%-1.0% nominal
6Financial Examiners$93,150
Bachelor's degree
$59,800 – $167,270-20.0%+0.7% nominal
7Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $79,880-19.8%+1.0% nominal
8Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,120
Associate's degree
$47,830 – $80,150-19.8%+1.0% nominal
9Millwrights$66,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,490 – $105,940-18.6%+2.5% nominal
10General and Operations Managers$103,570
Bachelor's degree
$53,240 – $269,320-18.1%+3.2% nominal
11Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$81,780
Bachelor's degree
$59,890 – $130,670-18.0%+3.3% nominal
12Brickmasons and Blockmasons$89,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $109,670-18.0%+3.3% nominal
13Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$64,630
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,700 – $100,140-17.9%+3.4% nominal
14Training and Development Specialists$67,380
Bachelor's degree
$39,430 – $119,970-17.3%+4.2% nominal
15Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$46,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,210 – $92,780-15.7%+6.1% nominal
16Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$52,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $99,470-15.5%+6.4% nominal
17Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$82,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$59,550 – $143,890-15.5%+6.4% nominal
18Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$62,960
Master's degree
$31,200 – $118,270-15.3%+6.6% nominal
19Construction Laborers$60,690
No formal educational credential
$38,880 – $105,040-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists$74,390
Bachelor's degree
$49,330 – $107,710-14.8%+7.3% nominal
21Pharmacists$139,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,970 – $169,430-14.6%+7.6% nominal
22Photographers$36,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $96,770-14.4%+7.8% nominal
23Computer Network Architects$132,790
Bachelor's degree
$81,630 – $201,190-14.4%+7.8% nominal
24Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$42,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,200 – $67,190-14.3%+8.0% nominal
25Procurement Clerks$47,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $64,500-13.9%+8.5% nominal
26Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$75,050
No formal educational credential
$38,790 – $88,640-13.9%+8.4% nominal
27Physical Therapist Assistants$65,240
Associate's degree
$41,600 – $81,890-13.5%+9.0% nominal
28Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$62,700
Master's degree
$38,650 – $103,540-13.0%+9.6% nominal
29Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$99,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,250 – $126,430-13.0%+9.6% nominal
30Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$78,170
No formal educational credential
$49,050 – $107,670-12.9%+9.7% nominal
31Compliance Officers$80,550
Bachelor's degree
$50,040 – $132,290-12.9%+9.7% nominal
32Detectives and Criminal Investigators$91,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,960 – $157,060-12.7%+10.0% nominal
33Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$44,860
Some college, no degree
$33,350 – $63,100-12.7%+9.9% nominal
34Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$113,360
Master's degree
$78,070 – $169,400-12.5%+10.2% nominal
35Computer Occupations, All Other$99,360
Bachelor's degree
$53,590 – $167,080-12.3%+10.5% nominal
36Chefs and Head Cooks$58,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,330 – $88,420-12.2%+10.5% nominal
37Travel Agents$49,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,200 – $77,630-12.0%+10.9% nominal
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$63,670
Associate's degree
$46,860 – $104,580-12.0%+10.8% nominal
39Electrical Engineers$107,860
Bachelor's degree
$75,470 – $164,290-11.9%+11.0% nominal
40Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$40,900
Bachelor's degree
$33,050 – $61,360-11.5%+11.4% nominal
41Medical and Health Services Managers$117,850
Bachelor's degree
$75,920 – $227,180-11.1%+12.0% nominal
42First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$49,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $76,050-10.9%+12.2% nominal
43First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$53,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $85,670-10.9%+12.2% nominal
44Structural Iron and Steel Workers$101,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,830 – $124,450-10.9%+12.2% nominal
45Actuaries$115,430
Bachelor's degree
$77,790 – $202,160-10.7%+12.4% nominal
46Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers$49,960
Master's degree
$39,910 – $79,050-10.4%+12.9% nominal
47Mechanical Engineers$102,680
Bachelor's degree
$72,150 – $160,160-10.4%+12.9% nominal
48Writers and Authors$68,220
Bachelor's degree
$41,830 – $134,400-10.1%+13.2% nominal
49Flight Attendants$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,040 – $98,810-10.1%+13.2% nominal
50Business Teachers, Postsecondary$94,770
Doctoral or professional degree
$37,590 – $215,800-10.1%+13.2% 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	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$156,110	$123,920 – $291,530	-27.4%-8.6% nominal
2	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$89,800	$62,500 – $164,990	-26.4%-7.3% nominal
3	ChiropractorsDoctoral or professional degree	$66,650	$37,630 – $136,330	-26.2%-7.1% nominal
4	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,300	$42,600 – $75,280	-23.0%-3.1% nominal
5	Psychology Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$77,860	$37,930 – $130,950	-21.4%-1.0% nominal
6	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$93,150	$59,800 – $167,270	-20.0%+0.7% nominal
7	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$38,670 – $79,880	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
8	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,120	$47,830 – $80,150	-19.8%+1.0% nominal
9	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,640	$44,490 – $105,940	-18.6%+2.5% nominal
10	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$103,570	$53,240 – $269,320	-18.1%+3.2% nominal
11	Architects, Except Landscape and NavalBachelor's degree	$81,780	$59,890 – $130,670	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
12	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$89,980	$47,200 – $109,670	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
13	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,630	$42,700 – $100,140	-17.9%+3.4% nominal
14	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$67,380	$39,430 – $119,970	-17.3%+4.2% nominal
15	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,800	$31,210 – $92,780	-15.7%+6.1% nominal
16	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,790	$41,600 – $99,470	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
17	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$82,330	$59,550 – $143,890	-15.5%+6.4% nominal
18	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$62,960	$31,200 – $118,270	-15.3%+6.6% nominal
19	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$60,690	$38,880 – $105,040	-15.3%+6.7% nominal
20	Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$74,390	$49,330 – $107,710	-14.8%+7.3% nominal
21	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$139,080	$98,970 – $169,430	-14.6%+7.6% nominal
22	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,570	$31,200 – $96,770	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
23	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$132,790	$81,630 – $201,190	-14.4%+7.8% nominal
24	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,030	$31,200 – $67,190	-14.3%+8.0% nominal
25	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,770	$37,490 – $64,500	-13.9%+8.5% nominal
26	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$75,050	$38,790 – $88,640	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,240	$41,600 – $81,890	-13.5%+9.0% nominal
28	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$62,700	$38,650 – $103,540	-13.0%+9.6% nominal
29	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,950	$50,250 – $126,430	-13.0%+9.6% nominal
30	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$78,170	$49,050 – $107,670	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
31	Compliance OfficersBachelor's degree	$80,550	$50,040 – $132,290	-12.9%+9.7% nominal
32	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,190	$53,960 – $157,060	-12.7%+10.0% nominal
33	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$44,860	$33,350 – $63,100	-12.7%+9.9% nominal
34	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$113,360	$78,070 – $169,400	-12.5%+10.2% nominal
35	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$99,360	$53,590 – $167,080	-12.3%+10.5% nominal
36	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,830	$40,330 – $88,420	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
37	Travel AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,090	$37,200 – $77,630	-12.0%+10.9% nominal
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,670	$46,860 – $104,580	-12.0%+10.8% nominal
39	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$107,860	$75,470 – $164,290	-11.9%+11.0% nominal
40	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$40,900	$33,050 – $61,360	-11.5%+11.4% nominal
41	Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$117,850	$75,920 – $227,180	-11.1%+12.0% nominal
42	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,410	$38,290 – $76,050	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
43	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,340	$39,480 – $85,670	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
44	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,850	$64,830 – $124,450	-10.9%+12.2% nominal
45	ActuariesBachelor's degree	$115,430	$77,790 – $202,160	-10.7%+12.4% nominal
46	Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social WorkersMaster's degree	$49,960	$39,910 – $79,050	-10.4%+12.9% nominal
47	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$102,680	$72,150 – $160,160	-10.4%+12.9% nominal
48	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$68,220	$41,830 – $134,400	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
49	Flight AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$40,040 – $98,810	-10.1%+13.2% nominal
50	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$94,770	$37,590 – $215,800	-10.1%+13.2% 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 lost the most to inflation in Illinois

More for Illinois

Metro areas in Illinois

By field in Illinois

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state