Salaries › Paralegal › Illinois
Paralegal Salary in Illinois (2026)
$30.61 per hour · take-home ≈ $50,187/year ($4,182/month) for a single filer
Paralegal pay range in Illinois
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $46,860 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $56,160 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $63,670 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $81,970 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $104,580 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 14,130 Paralegal jobs in Illinois (occupation code 23-2011, “Paralegals and Legal Assistants”).
Gross vs. take-home in Illinois
A median Paralegal salary of $63,670 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 $50,187 — an effective tax rate of 21.2%.
| Gross (median) | $63,670 |
| Federal income tax | −$5,460 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$4,871 |
| Illinois state income tax | −$3,152 |
| Take-home (annual) | $50,187 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $4,182 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free Illinois paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Paralegal make in Illinois?
- The median Paralegal salary in Illinois is $63,670 per year ($30.61 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $56,160 and $81,970.
- What is the take-home pay for a Paralegal in Illinois?
- On the median salary of $63,670, a single filer in Illinois takes home about $50,187 per year ($4,182 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 21.2%.
- How many Paralegal jobs are there in Illinois?
- BLS counts 14,130 Paralegal jobs in Illinois in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Paralegals
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.