Based on the mean annual salary of $45,770 and a standard 2,080-hour work year, a medical assistant in Illinois earns roughly $22.00 per hour on average. The median annual figure of $46,090 translates to approximately $22.16 per hour, which is a useful anchor for setting hourly rates for part-time or per-diem roles. Keep in mind that Chicago-area positions average $47,080 annually, so hourly rates in that market will run higher than the statewide figure.
Medical assistant salary in Illinois (2026)
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The average medical assistant salary in Illinois is $45,770 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $46,090 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Illinois employs 20,260 medical assistants, and the $320 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior medical assistants in Illinois typically earn around $36,400, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $56,590 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a medical assistant 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 | $46,090 |
Average Annual Salary | $45,770 |
vs. National Average | 0.8% below the national mean of $46,120 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 20,260 employed medical assistants across Illinois.
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Medical assistant salary percentiles in Illinois
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $36,400 |
25th Percentile | $38,970 |
75th Percentile | $49,460 |
90th Percentile | $56,590 |
Employers hiring entry-level medical assistants in Illinois can anchor offers near $36,400, while candidates with specialized experience or supervisory responsibilities typically command offers closer to $49,460 or above. The full spread from the 10th to the 90th percentile runs $20,190, which means seniority and specialization have a meaningful effect on where a competitive offer should land.
Medical assistant salary by city in Illinois
City | Average Annual Salary |
Chicago | $47,080 |
Rockford | $44,020 |
Springfield | $43,790 |
Peoria | $43,060 |
Champaign | $42,860 |
Employers hiring in Chicago should budget noticeably more than those hiring in downstate markets, since location alone accounts for a meaningful difference in compensation expectations. Chicago's average of $47,080 sits $4,220 above Champaign's $42,860, the lowest among the listed metros. If your role is remote-eligible or based outside the Chicago metro, you can reasonably anchor offers closer to the downstate range without losing competitiveness.
How Illinois compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $45,770 | $46,090 |
Wisconsin | $49,280 | $48,680 |
Indiana | $44,500 | $45,110 |
Ohio | $42,610 | $42,810 |
Michigan | $41,550 | $39,870 |
Texas | $41,240 | $39,520 |
Illinois sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a moderately priced state for medical assistant hiring compared to its neighbors. Wisconsin commands the highest average at $49,280, while Texas and Michigan come in below Illinois at $41,240 and $41,550 respectively. Employers in Illinois can expect compensation expectations that are broadly in line with Indiana but below what candidates in Wisconsin typically seek.
Frequently asked questions about medical assistant salary in Illinois
How much does a medical assistant make an hour in Illinois?
What is the salary range for a medical assistant in Illinois?
The salary range for a medical assistant in Illinois runs from $36,400 at the 10th percentile to $56,590 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $38,970 at the 25th percentile and $49,460 at the 75th percentile, which is where most offers for experienced candidates will land. When building a compensation band, use the 25th-to-75th percentile range as your core structure and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience level and your location within the state.
What do the top-earning medical assistants make in Illinois?
Medical assistants at the 90th percentile in Illinois earn $56,590 per year. Candidates who reach this level typically bring specialized clinical skills, supervisory responsibilities, or significant tenure in a high-demand setting. When competing for senior talent in Illinois, plan for offers in the upper $40,000s to low $50,000s as a starting point, with the $56,590 threshold representing what the most experienced professionals in the state command.
How does Illinois compare to other states for medical assistant salary?
Illinois's mean of $45,770 places it above Indiana ($44,500), Ohio ($42,610), Michigan ($41,550), and Texas ($41,240), but below Wisconsin ($49,280). The Illinois median of $46,090 also tracks closely with Indiana's median of $45,110, meaning candidate expectations in these two neighboring states are broadly similar. If you are hiring across state lines or benchmarking against a regional peer, Wisconsin is the market where you will need to offer the most to stay competitive.
Medical Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 31-9092 (Medical Assistants).
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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