How much does a lawyer make in Chicago?
$165,700a year
Median yearly pay for lawyers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $79.64 an hour or $13,810 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.64
- Vs. national median
- +4%
- Rank among cities
- 23 of 378
- Jobs in the area
- 28,320
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $87,070Median: $165,700Highest 10%: $331,100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $87,070 | $41.86 | |
| 25th | $107,000 | $51.43 | |
| Median | $165,700 | $79.64 | |
| 75th | $232,300 | $111.67 | |
| 90th | $331,100 | $159.20 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for lawyers.
| Peoria, IL | $161,200 |
| St. Louis, MO | $142,700 |
| Springfield, IL | $131,400 |
| Champaign, IL | $130,000 |
| Davenport, IA | $124,900 |
| Bloomington, IL | $124,100 |
| Kankakee, IL | $107,000 |
| Rockford, IL | $103,200 |
| Decatur, IL | $100,800 |
| Paducah, KY | $96,960 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO | $94,600 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Judge | $146,400 |
| 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 lawyer make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $79.64 ($165,700 a year).
Do lawyers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $165,700 against $159,700 nationally, 4% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $160,800, so Chicago pays 3% more.
Where does Chicago rank for lawyer pay?
23 of 378 metro areas with data.
How much does a lawyer make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $87,070 or less a year; the top 10% make $331,100 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.