BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Human Resources Specialists in Illinois

$81,480 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$39.17 per hour

▼ 0.6% below U.S. average15th of 51 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$81,480per year
Median$76,820per year
Hourly$39.17per hour
10th – 90th percentile$48,980 – $123,940per year

Human Resources Specialists Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$48,980
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$60,750
  • 50th Percentile — Median$76,820
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$98,580
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$123,940

Half of Human Resources Specialists in Illinois earn more than $76,820. The top 10% make $123,940 or more, while entry-level workers start around $48,980.

Human Resources Specialists in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 15th of 51 states for Human Resources Specialists pay, at $81,480 per year (0.6% below the U.S. average of $81,990).
  • 35,430 people work as Human Resources Specialists in Illinois — 3.9% of all U.S. Human Resources Specialists jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.99: Human Resources Specialists jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $48,980; the top 10% earn over $123,940.
  • Hourly equivalent: $39.17 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $116,020.
  • Among business jobs in Illinois, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($158,450).

Human Resources Specialists Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Human Resources Specialists here earn $81,480 on average, placing the state 15th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $81,480 is roughly equivalent to $77,600 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Delaware ($85,230), Oregon ($84,550), Minnesota ($83,970) are the closest alternatives for Human Resources Specialists weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Human Resources Specialists salary in Illinois?

The average Human Resources Specialists salary in Illinois is $81,480 per year (median $76,820), which is 0.6% below the national average of $81,990.

How does Illinois rank for Human Resources Specialists pay?

Illinois ranks 15th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($116,020/yr).

How much do entry-level Human Resources Specialists make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Human Resources Specialists in Illinois earn about $48,980 per year and the 25th percentile is $60,750.

How much do Human Resources Specialists make per hour in Illinois?

About $39.17 per hour, based on the $81,480 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Human Resources Specialists work in Illinois?

BLS counts 35,430 Human Resources Specialists jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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