SOC 13-1071 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Human Resources Specialists — Illinois
Illinois · 8 metro areas compared
At $76,820, median pay for Human Resources Specialists in Illinois tracks the national median of $75,940 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $76,820, median pay for Human Resources Specialists in Illinois tracks the national median of $75,940 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $60,750 and $98,580. The lowest tenth earn under $48,980, while the highest tenth earn more than $123,940.
Employment stands at 35,430, or 5.8 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 51 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 17th by median wage. Springfield leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $78,840. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 269th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,980 | −35.5% |
| 25th | $60,750 | −20.0% |
| Median (50th) | $76,820 | +1.2% |
| 75th | $98,580 | +29.8% |
| 90th | $123,940 | +63.2% |
| Mean | $81,480 | +7.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $78,840 | 950 | |
| 2 | Chicago | $78,210 | 26,470 | |
| 3 | Bloomington | $74,210 | 510 | |
| 4 | Peoria | $74,020 | 890 | |
| 5 | Champaign | $67,360 | 540 | |
| 6 | Rockford | $65,490 | 650 | |
| 7 | Kankakee | $63,720 | 160 | |
| 8 | Decatur | $63,700 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $76,820 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$76,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$76,820US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,820 a year, 1.2% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,980 to $123,940 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 35,430 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 17th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Springfield, at $78,840.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Human Resources Specialists in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $76,820, or $36.93 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $75,940, so pay in Illinois is 1.2% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $123,940 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,980 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Springfield, at $78,840 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 35,430 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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