Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Illinois | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $80,230 | $86,427 | -7% |
| Median hourly wage | $38.57 | $41.55 | -7% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $80,230.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $83,874 | $57,750 | $110,250 | 107 |
The median annual salary for a Accountant in Illinois is $80,230, or about $38.57 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Accountants is $86,427. Illinois is -7% below the national median.
Entry-level accountants in Illinois typically earn from $57,750 depending on the city and employer.
With 54,930 accountant jobs on record and a median salary of $80,230, Illinois offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, accountants rank 224 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 70% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Personal Financial Advisors at $120,130, Financial Risk Specialists at $104,300, Management Analysts at $104,270 — all figures are median annual wages for Illinois.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Illinois levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, accountants rank 224 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 70% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Illinois | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Financial Advisors | $120,130 | $9,760 |
| Financial Risk Specialists | $104,300 | $2,920 |
| Management Analysts | $104,270 | $45,820 |
| Labor Relations Specialists | $104,180 | $3,670 |
| Project Management Specialists | $103,470 | $27,180 |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $101,180 | $20,520 |
Illinois levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 747 occupations in Illinois.