Lawyer Salary in Chicago, IL
Lawyers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $165,660 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $116,439 take-home, or $9,703 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,492
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,271
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,402
- Illinois income tax$8,055
- Take-home pay$116,439
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Lawyer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,070 | $41.86 | $65,919 | $5,493 |
| 25th percentile | $106,980 | $51.43 | $78,940 | $6,578 |
| Median (50th) | $165,660 | $79.64 | $116,439 | $9,703 |
| 75th percentile | $232,270 | $111.67 | $160,190 | $13,349 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $331,140+ | $159.20 | $218,439 | $18,203 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,660 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median lawyer's $116,439 take-home pay has the buying power of $112,399 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.3× the national concentration of lawyer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for lawyers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 149 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $239,200+ | $188,293 | $170,520 |
| 2 | Birmingham, AL | $170,230 | $119,372 | $130,256 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $208,880 | $144,183 | $128,091 |
| 4 | Peoria, IL | $161,150 | $113,580 | $124,497 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $168,510 | $126,443 | $122,653 |
| 6 | Chattanooga, TN | $147,640 | $112,178 | $122,647 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $163,380 | $122,936 | $121,702 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $195,190 | $131,718 | $120,971 |
| 22 | Chicago, IL | $165,660 | $116,439 | $112,399 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 149 metros →
Lawyer salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $161,150
- Springfield, IL — $131,400
- Bloomington, IL — $124,100
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lawyer make in Chicago, IL?
The median lawyer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $165,660 a year, or about $79.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $106,980 and $232,270.
What is a lawyer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $165,660 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $116,439 a year ($9,703 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,055 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a lawyer?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $159,670. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $112,399 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #22 of 149 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a lawyer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median lawyer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Paralegal and Legal Assistant — $70,550
- Legal Support Workers, All Other — $63,240
- Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers — $56,710