Salaries › HR Specialist › Illinois
HR Specialist Salary in Illinois (2026)
$36.93 per hour · take-home ≈ $59,070/year ($4,923/month) for a single filer
HR Specialist pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $48,980 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $60,750 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $76,820 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $98,580 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $123,940 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 35,430 HR Specialist jobs in Illinois (occupation code 13-1071, “Human Resources Specialists”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median HR Specialist salary of $76,820 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus Illinois state income tax, a single filer keeps about $59,070 — an effective tax rate of 23.1%.
| Gross (median) | $76,820 |
| Federal income tax | −$8,070 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$5,877 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$3,803 |
| Take-home (annual) | $59,070 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,923 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a HR Specialist make in Illinois?
- The median HR Specialist salary in Illinois is $76,820 per year ($36.93 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $60,750 and $98,580.
- What is the take-home pay for a HR Specialist in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $76,820, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $59,070 per year ($4,923 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 23.1%.
- How many HR Specialist jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 35,430 HR Specialist jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for HR Specialists
Other salaries in Illinois
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified Illinois state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for Illinois.