What is the median salary for Lawyers in Chicago?

According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $165,660.

How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Lawyers?

Local median pay is 3.8% above the national OEWS median of $159,670.

How does cost of living change what that wage buys?

BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $165,660 has about the same purchasing power as $159,903 at US-average prices.

How current is this data?

Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

Lawyers, Chicago

$165,660

BLS OEWS median annual wage in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN. Middle half of wages roughly $106,980 to $232,270.

BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA Regional Price Parity 2024. Disclaimer

vs US median: +3.8%
US median: $159,670
Metro RPP: 103.6
Middle half: $106,980 to $232,270
OEWS employment: 28,320
SOC: 23-1011

Lawyers in Chicago pay a median $165,660 (May 2025), 3.8% above the US median of $159,670. At local prices (RPP 103.6), that median buys about what $159,903 buys at US-average prices.

Purchasing power

$165,660 in Chicago buys about what $159,903 buys at US-average prices (BEA RPP 103.6, 2024). Housing (rents) RPP is 112 vs all-items 103.6 (US = 100, 2024).

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Lawyers in nearby metros

Metro	Median	Middle half	RPP
Chicago	$165,660	$106,980 to $232,270	103.6
Phoenix	$135,670	$103,160 to $193,210	103.3
San Francisco	$212,500	$137,380 to $320,510	115.6
Tulsa	$108,220	$75,830 to $166,070	89.2

BLS OEWS May 2025 where published for the CBSA.

FAQ

What is the median salary for Lawyers in Chicago?: According to BLS OEWS May 2025, the median annual wage for Lawyers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $165,660.
How does Chicago pay compare to the US median for Lawyers?: Local median pay is 3.8% above the national OEWS median of $159,670.
How does cost of living change what that wage buys?: BEA RPP for Chicago is 103.6 (US = 100, 2024). The local median of $165,660 has about the same purchasing power as $159,903 at US-average prices.
How current is this data?: Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities for 2024. See methodology for source details.

What this covers

Includes

BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)

Does not include

Federal, state, or local income taxes
Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand

Median wages are published BLS OEWS metro estimates; price levels use BEA Regional Price Parities. See methodology and disclaimer.