Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Springfield, IL

Each occupation's median wage in Springfield, IL compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Springfield, IL pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Springfield, IL run 7.3% below the national average (2024), so a Springfield, IL salary is worth about 1.08× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Springfield, IL

OccupationMedian, Springfield, IL · vs. national

1Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,150 – $102,570+59.2%
2Chief Executives$338,570
Bachelor's degree
$110,900 – $493,420+58.2%
3Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$117,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,740 – $158,390+49.6%
4Conservation Scientists$107,990
Bachelor's degree
$63,130 – $139,190+47.9%
5Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$94,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,400 – $121,250+47.9%
6Personal Financial Advisors$154,370
Bachelor's degree
$61,270 – $401,620+46.9%
7Psychiatrists$413,890
Doctoral or professional degree
$126,400 – $413,890+46.8%
8Sheet Metal Workers$90,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,970 – $112,450+46.2%
9Telemarketers$50,390
No formal educational credential
$36,210 – $64,790+42.1%
10Highway Maintenance Workers$71,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $102,730+41.9%
11Roofers$77,900
No formal educational credential
$46,430 – $99,180+40.5%
12Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators$71,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,810 – $108,070+34.4%
13Electricians$84,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $116,560+34.2%
14Construction Laborers$61,400
No formal educational credential
$37,750 – $97,130+30.3%
15Structural Iron and Steel Workers$81,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,390 – $83,090+30.2%
16Painters, Construction and Maintenance$63,930
No formal educational credential
$42,330 – $98,290+29.4%
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$83,990
Associate's degree
$52,830 – $112,790+29.3%
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$83,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,950 – $92,060+28.2%
19Child, Family, and School Social Workers$76,330
Bachelor's degree
$40,890 – $115,190+28.2%
20Carpenters$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,660 – $97,940+27.1%
21Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$101,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$61,620 – $131,010+26.2%
22First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$115,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,140 – $149,930+23.8%
23Dentists, General$209,430
Doctoral or professional degree
$111,960 – $309,990+22.5%
24Medical Equipment Repairers$75,220
Associate's degree
$45,380 – $100,650+22.0%
25Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$60,570
No formal educational credential
$36,960 – $82,150+21.9%
26Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$59,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,490 – $79,390+21.5%
27First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$97,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,940 – $126,840+21.5%
28Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$60,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,110 – $85,070+21.1%
29Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$77,430
Bachelor's degree
$48,730 – $97,950+18.9%
30Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$57,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $73,650+18.5%
31Office Machine Operators, Except Computer$48,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $69,590+17.9%
32Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,570
Bachelor's degree
$49,310 – $99,580+17.4%
33Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$41,600
No formal educational credential
$32,290 – $49,870+16.7%
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$70,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,690 – $101,000+15.9%
35Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors$71,180
Bachelor's degree
$67,780 – $71,180+15.7%
36Business Operations Specialists, All Other$95,990
Bachelor's degree
$59,710 – $136,790+15.6%
37Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$76,450
Bachelor's degree
$51,700 – $109,480+15.4%
38Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$56,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,010 – $73,050+14.8%
39Rehabilitation Counselors$53,640
Master's degree
$35,540 – $105,590+14.5%
40Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$93,590
Bachelor's degree
$57,590 – $141,590+13.8%
41Industrial Machinery Mechanics$73,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $115,090+13.1%
42Physical Therapists$115,990
Doctoral or professional degree
$81,030 – $147,390+12.9%
43Social and Human Service Assistants$51,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,490 – $88,790+12.5%
44Health Education Specialists$71,990
Bachelor's degree
$42,460 – $103,190+12.4%
45Parts Salespersons$43,230
No formal educational credential
$31,440 – $63,250+11.9%
46Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$106,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$89,560 – $116,330+11.9%
47Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,600
Bachelor's degree
$71,990 – $153,590+11.6%
48Special Education Teachers, Middle School$74,590
Bachelor's degree
$48,790 – $100,310+11.6%
49Security Guards$42,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,460 – $57,350+11.1%
50Computer Systems Analysts$117,590
Bachelor's degree
$79,190 – $141,590+11.1%

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

#	Occupation	MedianSpringfield, IL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,310	$45,150 – $102,570	+59.2%
2	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$338,570	$110,900 – $493,420	+58.2%
3	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,590	$62,740 – $158,390	+49.6%
4	Conservation ScientistsBachelor's degree	$107,990	$63,130 – $139,190	+47.9%
5	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,370	$48,400 – $121,250	+47.9%
6	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$154,370	$61,270 – $401,620	+46.9%
7	PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree	$413,890	$126,400 – $413,890	+46.8%
8	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,330	$45,970 – $112,450	+46.2%
9	TelemarketersNo formal educational credential	$50,390	$36,210 – $64,790	+42.1%
10	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,320	$38,090 – $102,730	+41.9%
11	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$77,900	$46,430 – $99,180	+40.5%
12	Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,670	$53,810 – $108,070	+34.4%
13	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,780	$46,840 – $116,560	+34.2%
14	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$61,400	$37,750 – $97,130	+30.3%
15	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,750	$51,390 – $83,090	+30.2%
16	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$63,930	$42,330 – $98,290	+29.4%
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$83,990	$52,830 – $112,790	+29.3%
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,990	$45,950 – $92,060	+28.2%
19	Child, Family, and School Social WorkersBachelor's degree	$76,330	$40,890 – $115,190	+28.2%
20	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$43,660 – $97,940	+27.1%
21	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,250	$61,620 – $131,010	+26.2%
22	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$115,820	$70,140 – $149,930	+23.8%
23	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$209,430	$111,960 – $309,990	+22.5%
24	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$75,220	$45,380 – $100,650	+22.0%
25	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$60,570	$36,960 – $82,150	+21.9%
26	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,530	$43,490 – $79,390	+21.5%
27	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,140	$65,940 – $126,840	+21.5%
28	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,900	$40,110 – $85,070	+21.1%
29	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$77,430	$48,730 – $97,950	+18.9%
30	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,200	$37,590 – $73,650	+18.5%
31	Office Machine Operators, Except ComputerHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,290	$38,210 – $69,590	+17.9%
32	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$75,570	$49,310 – $99,580	+17.4%
33	Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and GreenhouseNo formal educational credential	$41,600	$32,290 – $49,870	+16.7%
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$70,730	$47,690 – $101,000	+15.9%
35	Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language InstructorsBachelor's degree	$71,180	$67,780 – $71,180	+15.7%
36	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$95,990	$59,710 – $136,790	+15.6%
37	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$76,450	$51,700 – $109,480	+15.4%
38	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,540	$38,010 – $73,050	+14.8%
39	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$53,640	$35,540 – $105,590	+14.5%
40	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$93,590	$57,590 – $141,590	+13.8%
41	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,000	$48,440 – $115,090	+13.1%
42	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$115,990	$81,030 – $147,390	+12.9%
43	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,680	$34,490 – $88,790	+12.5%
44	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$71,990	$42,460 – $103,190	+12.4%
45	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$43,230	$31,440 – $63,250	+11.9%
46	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,630	$89,560 – $116,330	+11.9%
47	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,600	$71,990 – $153,590	+11.6%
48	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$74,590	$48,790 – $100,310	+11.6%
49	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,240	$33,460 – $57,350	+11.1%
50	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$117,590	$79,190 – $141,590	+11.1%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Springfield, IL

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