BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Tax Preparers in Illinois

$54,530 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$26.22 per hour

▼ 10.5% below U.S. average27th of 48 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$54,530per year
Median$54,480per year
Hourly$26.22per hour
10th – 90th percentile$33,030 – $76,150per year

Tax Preparers Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$33,030
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$38,120
  • 50th Percentile — Median$54,480
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$62,910
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$76,150

Half of Tax Preparers in Illinois earn more than $54,480. The top 10% make $76,150 or more, while entry-level workers start around $33,030.

Tax Preparers in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 27th of 48 states for Tax Preparers pay, at $54,530 per year (10.5% below the U.S. average of $60,930).
  • 1,310 people work as Tax Preparers in Illinois — 1.7% of all U.S. Tax Preparers jobs.
  • Location quotient 0.44: Tax Preparers jobs are less concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,030; the top 10% earn over $76,150.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.22 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is New York at $79,160.
  • Among business jobs in Illinois, Personal Financial Advisors pays the most ($158,450).

Tax Preparers Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Tax Preparers here earn $54,530 on average, placing the state 27th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $54,530 is roughly equivalent to $51,933 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Kansas ($55,950), South Dakota ($55,710), Georgia ($55,400) are the closest alternatives for Tax Preparers 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 Tax Preparers salary in Illinois?

The average Tax Preparers salary in Illinois is $54,530 per year (median $54,480), which is 10.5% below the national average of $60,930.

How does Illinois rank for Tax Preparers pay?

Illinois ranks 27th out of 48 states. The highest-paying state is New York ($79,160/yr).

How much do entry-level Tax Preparers make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Tax Preparers in Illinois earn about $33,030 per year and the 25th percentile is $38,120.

How much do Tax Preparers make per hour in Illinois?

About $26.22 per hour, based on the $54,530 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Tax Preparers work in Illinois?

BLS counts 1,310 Tax Preparers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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