The average annual state government salary in Illinois, excluding university jobs, is approximately $79,000 in 2023.
Despite Illinois being ranked 24th in terms of cost of living by the Economic Research and Information Center in Missouri, and 19th by the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, the state's average wages for state employees are among the highest in the nation.
According to OpenPayrolls, which tracks data nationwide, Illinois is among the top 5 states for highest salaries for state workers.
The average wages for Illinois state employees are among the highest in the nation and belie the state's more modest cost-of-living rankings.Author's summary: Illinois state employees are highly paid.