Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Illinois
Each occupation's median wage in Illinois 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 Illinois pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianIllinois | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | vs. national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Insulation Workers, MechanicalHigh school diploma or equivalent | $100,400 | $57,350 – $115,290 | +72.1% |
| 2 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $97,740 | $49,770 – $123,330 | +63.3% |
| 3 | Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $101,850 | $64,830 – $124,450 | +62.2% |
| 4 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $99,560 | $49,240 – $123,660 | +57.6% |
| 5 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $99,950 | $50,250 – $126,430 | +56.7% |
| 6 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $331,920 | $133,170 – $589,720 | +55.1% |
| 7 | Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential | $75,050 | $38,790 – $88,640 | +51.0% |
| 8 | Therapists, All OtherBachelor's degree | $116,200 | $57,240 – $193,760 | +49.1% |
| 9 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $115,780 | $72,270 – $125,260 | +47.3% |
| 10 | Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $89,980 | $47,200 – $109,670 | +44.8% |
| 11 | RoofersNo formal educational credential | $77,900 | $46,600 – $106,530 | +40.5% |
| 12 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface MiningHigh school diploma or equivalent | $80,600 | $46,130 – $93,290 | +40.3% |
| 13 | Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $86,630 | $42,220 – $117,910 | +40.2% |
| 14 | Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential | $78,170 | $49,050 – $107,670 | +37.1% |
| 15 | First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $105,450 | $83,990 – $160,790 | +35.2% |
| 16 | Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $79,190 | $50,520 – $102,770 | +34.4% |
| 17 | Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmBachelor's degree | $100,170 | $38,840 – $133,940 | +33.6% |
| 18 | First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $105,750 | $62,500 – $132,590 | +32.3% |
| 19 | FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award | $78,380 | $38,900 – $106,060 | +32.2% |
| 20 | First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award | $123,500 | $73,690 – $153,820 | +32.0% |
| 21 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $100,520 | $58,420 – $119,560 | +31.9% |
| 22 | CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $79,000 | $39,890 – $117,660 | +30.4% |
| 23 | Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree | $80,720 | $55,190 – $121,720 | +29.4% |
| 24 | Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential | $60,690 | $38,880 – $105,040 | +28.8% |
| 25 | First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $135,080 | $81,750 – $162,640 | +27.4% |
| 26 | Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree | $99,840 | $50,330 – $209,840 | +26.9% |
| 27 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award | $77,410 | $46,690 – $117,550 | +26.9% |
| 28 | Morticians, Undertakers, and Funeral ArrangersAssociate's degree | $69,600 | $42,740 – $104,570 | +26.5% |
| 29 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree | $293,490 | $166,620 – $421,610 | +26.4% |
| 30 | Rail Car RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $84,570 | $49,820 – $96,170 | +25.2% |
| 31 | Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,330 | $43,990 – $98,970 | +24.0% |
| 32 | Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential | $61,260 | $40,820 – $105,350 | +24.0% |
| 33 | Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $135,430 | $64,070 – $222,540 | +23.9% |
| 34 | Floor Layers, Except Carpet, Wood, and Hard TilesNo formal educational credential | $69,880 | $43,960 – $114,190 | +23.8% |
| 35 | Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,700 | $35,680 – $100,790 | +22.8% |
| 36 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $79,190 | $49,130 – $119,990 | +21.9% |
| 37 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $133,690 | $67,460 – $166,740 | +21.6% |
| 38 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $286,830 | $103,490 – $335,610 | +21.2% |
| 39 | Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $80,210 | $64,220 – $83,740 | +20.1% |
| 40 | Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree | $77,960 | $49,790 – $104,490 | +19.7% |
| 41 | Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree | $76,110 | $47,810 – $105,580 | +18.2% |
| 42 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $76,200 | $49,230 – $102,590 | +18.1% |
| 43 | Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree | $75,320 | $47,040 – $105,250 | +17.7% |
| 44 | Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,210 | $38,920 – $97,780 | +17.6% |
| 45 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree | $77,950 | $48,540 – $132,830 | +17.6% |
| 46 | Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $99,060 | $47,340 – $207,930 | +17.1% |
| 47 | Mechanical Door RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $65,090 | $48,730 – $72,850 | +16.8% |
| 48 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award | $75,000 | $58,880 – $89,810 | +16.5% |
| 49 | Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree | $76,450 | $36,100 – $110,390 | +15.6% |
| 50 | Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,260 | $38,920 – $94,970 | +15.5% |