Career Atlas USA

Careers in Illinois

Illinois’s regional price level is below the national average (index 99.958, where 100 = U.S. average, 2024 BEA data).

Unemployment rate: 4.6% · Labor force participation: 63.4% · 6,214,992 people employed (2026-07, BLS LAUS, not seasonally adjusted).

Highest-Paying Careers

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  1. 1Cardiologists$517,850
  2. 2Surgeons, All Other$438,010
  3. 3Dermatologists$435,750
  4. 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$426,580
  5. 5Physicians, Pathologists$381,770

Largest Occupations

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  1. 1Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand195,390 employed
  2. 2General and Operations Managers171,300 employed
  3. 3Cashiers139,630 employed
  4. 4Registered Nurses138,910 employed
  5. 5Home Health and Personal Care Aides134,100 employed

Highest Concentration

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  1. 1Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other9.05× national avg
  2. 2Hoist and Winch Operators3.10× national avg
  3. 3Nuclear Technicians3.08× national avg
  4. 4Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary2.77× national avg
  5. 5Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders2.75× national avg

Best Purchasing Power

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cost-of-living adjusted

  1. 1Cardiologists$518,068
  2. 2Surgeons, All Other$438,194
  3. 3Dermatologists$435,933
  4. 4Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric$426,759
  5. 5Physicians, Pathologists$381,930

Strongest Opportunity Score

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  1. 1Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents93.8 / 100
  2. 2Rail Car Repairers90.3 / 100
  3. 3Baggage Porters and Bellhops89.4 / 100
  4. 4Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity89.3 / 100
  5. 5Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers88.6 / 100

Sources

Wage and employment data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities. Unemployment rate: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS). Opportunity Score is a Career Atlas USA calculation — see methodology.