IL's Top 10 Highest Paying Jobs in 2024

Want to bring home the biggest bucks in the Land of Lincoln? Illinois has a vast selection of career options to choose from, but obviously, some pay a whole lot more than others. Here are 10 of the highest-paying jobs in Illinois for 2024.

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What To Be When You Grow Up

My daughters may only be 10 and 8, but we've already had a few discussions about what they want to be when they grow up. While "Cowgirl Vet" may be at the top of the list for both them at the moment, they've also told me they want to work at McDonald's or Taco Bell so they can "learn the secret recipes". LOL!

I am not one to tell my girls they can't do something or to crush their dreams, but them attending college and becoming successful adults is a high priority in our house.

The Highest Paying Jobs in Illinois

If you're tired of living paycheck to paycheck and need to make a career change to live a more comfortable lifestyle, here are the 10 highest-paying jobs in Illinois for 2024 according to Salary Explorer:

1. Surgeons and Doctors - Salary Range: from $213,000 to $715,000

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2. Judges - Salary Range: from $152,000 to $484,000

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3. Lawyers - Salary Range: from $148,000 to $413,000

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4. Bank Managers - Salary Range: from $114,000 to $353,000

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5. Chief Executive Officers - Salary Range: from $114,000 to $345,000

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6. Chief Financial Officers - Salary Range: from $108,000 to $325,000

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7. Orthodontists - Salary Range: from $99,200 to $316,000

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8. College Professors - Salary Range: from $98,900 to $315,000

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9. Pilots - Salary Range: from $92,200 to $286,000

Photo by Kristopher Allison on Unsplash

10. Marketing Directors - Salary Range: from $72,900 to $238,000

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If you're thinking that list is too broad and not specific enough, Salary Explorer's article does state;

In order to have diversity in the list and to make it as extensive as possible, we grouped similar jobs together. If we just displayed the highest salaries in descending order, then the list would have mostly consisted of top-level surgeons.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Illinois

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Illinois using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.