The average HR manager salary in Illinois is $162,450 per year, with a median of $151,370. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high-paying roles at the top of the market. Budget toward the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the seniority and scope of the position you are filling.
HR manager salary in Illinois (2026)
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The average HR manager salary in Illinois is $162,450 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $151,370 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Illinois employs 13,520 HR managers, and the $11,080 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior HR managers in Illinois typically earn around $90,820, while senior specialists reach and exceed $267,520. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for an HR manager hire in Illinois, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $151,370 |
Average Annual Salary | $162,450 |
vs. National Average | 1.1% below the national mean of $164,230 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 13,520 employed HR managers across Illinois.
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HR manager salary percentiles in Illinois
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $90,820 |
25th Percentile | $114,940 |
75th Percentile | $196,630 |
90th Percentile | $267,520 |
Employers setting an offer for an HR manager in Illinois should expect a wide range depending on seniority, with entry-level roles anchoring near $90,820 and experienced specialists reaching $267,520 or beyond. The spread from the 25th to the 75th percentile alone spans $81,690, which means the candidate's background and scope of responsibility will drive compensation more than any single benchmark figure.
HR manager salary by city in Illinois
City | Average Annual Salary |
Chicago | $165,550 |
Peoria | $156,750 |
Springfield | $147,990 |
Champaign | $132,500 |
Rockford | $131,240 |
Employers hiring in Chicago should budget meaningfully more than those hiring in smaller Illinois markets, since location alone can shift compensation by over $34,000. Chicago's average of $165,550 sits well above Rockford's $131,240, so remote or hybrid arrangements that draw from multiple markets will require a clear geographic pay policy to stay consistent.
How Illinois compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $162,450 | $151,370 |
Michigan | $152,580 | $138,930 |
Texas | $151,070 | $136,500 |
Wisconsin | $148,680 | $133,490 |
Ohio | $144,530 | $130,480 |
Indiana | $143,650 | $130,340 |
Illinois employers pay more for HR manager talent than any of the five comparison states, which means candidates relocating from neighboring markets may have lower salary expectations than your Illinois-based candidates. Illinois's mean of $162,450 runs about $10,000 above Michigan's $152,580 and nearly $19,000 above Indiana's $143,650, so cross-state benchmarking will understate what you need to offer locally.
Frequently asked questions about HR manager salary in Illinois
How much do HR managers make in Illinois?
How does Illinois compare to other states for HR manager salary?
Illinois leads all five comparison states, with a mean of $162,450 versus Michigan's $152,580, Texas's $151,070, Wisconsin's $148,680, Ohio's $144,530, and Indiana's $143,650. If you are competing for candidates who have offers in neighboring states, your Illinois-based offer will generally need to reflect a premium over those markets. Use the Illinois median of $151,370 as your floor when benchmarking against out-of-state candidates.
What do the top-earning HR managers make in Illinois?
HR managers at the 90th percentile in Illinois earn $267,520 per year. Roles at this level typically reflect broad organizational scope, deep specialization, or leadership over large HR functions. When competing for senior talent in this range, expect candidates to benchmark against Chicago-market rates, where the average already reaches $165,550.
What is the salary range for a HR manager in Illinois?
The salary range for an HR manager in Illinois runs from $90,820 at the 10th percentile to $267,520 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $114,940 at the 25th percentile and $196,630 at the 75th percentile, giving you a practical budgeting band for most hires. Anchor your offer within that middle range and adjust based on the candidate's experience level and the complexity of the role.
HR Manager salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 11-3121 (Human Resources Managers).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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