Lawyer pay in Chicago, IL
Lawyers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a typical $165,660 a year. The middle half earn $106,980 to $232,270, and the top 10% earn more than $331,140. About 28,320 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Lawyers, SOC 23-1011).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $87,070 |
| 25th percentile | $106,980 |
| Median (typical) | $165,660 |
| 75th percentile | $232,270 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $331,140 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 13 of 48 large metros for lawyers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $165,660, a single filer keeps about $116,400 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax. Prices in Chicago are 4% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $112,400 would in a typical US city. That ranks Chicago No. 17 of 48 large metros for lawyers after cost of living.
Where lawyers’ pay goes furthest
- San Jose, CA$301,320 typical · worth $174k
- Birmingham, AL$170,230 typical · worth $129k
- San Francisco, CA$212,500 typical · worth $123k
- Dallas, TX$168,510 typical · worth $123k
Where does your salary land?
Add your salary and experience to see your percentile among lawyers in Chicago. Free and private. (Different city? Use the main checker.) 3 employers here filed pay above the typical rate in government filings; your check shows how many pay more than you.
Common questions
How much does a lawyer make in Chicago, IL?
The typical (median) lawyer in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earns $165,660 a year. The middle half earn between $106,980 and $232,270, and the top 10% earn more than $331,140. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a lawyer in Chicago?
Anything above $165,660 pays more than half of lawyers in Chicago. $232,270 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $331,140 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a lawyer in Chicago take home after taxes?
At the typical $165,660, a single filer keeps about $116,400 a year ($9,700 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois state income tax. With local prices 4% above the US average, that buys what $112,400 would in a typical US city.
Where do lawyers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 48 largest US metros, typical lawyer pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Jose, CA, Birmingham, AL, San Francisco, CA. Chicago, IL ranks No. 17.
More: Lawyer pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Chicago, IL
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.