How much does a judge make in Chicago?
$146,400a year
Median yearly pay for judges in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $70.38 an hour or $12,200 a month.
- Hourly
- $70.38
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 47 of 98
- Jobs in the area
- 80
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,760Median: $146,400Highest 10%: $183,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,760 | $30.17 | |
| 25th | $105,100 | $50.54 | |
| Median | $146,400 | $70.38 | |
| 75th | $183,000 | $87.98 | |
| 90th | $183,000 | $87.98 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for judges.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Lawyer | $165,700 |
| Administrative Law Judge | $121,700 |
| Paralegal and Legal Assistant | $70,550 |
| Judicial Law Clerk | $66,640 |
| Legal Support Worker | $63,240 |
| Title Examiner | $56,710 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a judge make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $70.38 ($146,400 a year).
Do judges make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $146,400 against $154,000 nationally, 5% less.
Where does Chicago rank for judge pay?
47 of 98 metro areas with data.
How much does a judge make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,760 or less a year; the top 10% make $183,000 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.