Quick answer:Human Resources Specialists in Illinois earn a median $76,820 per year, above the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The state employs about 35,430 of them. Licensing runs through HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
Human Resources Management Pay and Employment in Illinois at a Glance
Metric
Illinois
National
Source
Median annual wage
$76,820
$75,940
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$48,980
$47,180
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$60,750
$58,610
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$98,580
$99,380
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$123,940
$128,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
35,430
912,430
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.99
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
6.2%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Illinois Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Illinois median of $76,820 sits above the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.99 puts Illinois slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. HR headcount tracks employer headcount. Metros with large corporate, health system or public sector employers support the deepest HR job markets.
Human Resources Specialists Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), human resources specialists wages in Illinois vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
26,470
$78,210
$83,190
$49,580
$125,220
St. Louis
8,130
$71,670
$77,170
$47,230
$116,290
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
1,420
$79,670
$83,670
$49,920
$124,900
Springfield
950
$78,840
$80,210
$51,130
$110,390
Peoria
890
$74,020
$78,360
$48,290
$123,300
Rockford
650
$65,490
$70,110
$46,830
$94,930
Champaign-Urbana
540
$67,360
$73,500
$48,770
$101,050
Bloomington
510
$74,210
$77,970
$49,710
$119,830
Cape Girardeau
230
$60,660
$64,470
$41,290
$87,240
Paducah
210
$64,500
$72,600
$41,580
$113,840
Kankakee
160
$63,720
$67,550
$44,440
$99,630
Decatur
140
$63,700
$69,170
$44,440
$96,090
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 56 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
How much do human resources specialists make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for human resources specialists in Illinois is $76,820, above the national median of $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $60,750 at the 25th percentile to $98,580 at the 75th.
How many human resources specialists work in Illinois?
Illinois holds about 35,430 human resources specialist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 912,430, and BLS projects about 81,800 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a human resources specialist in Illinois?
Human resources is not licensed. The recognized professional credentials are the PHR and SPHR from HRCI and the SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP from SHRM, all of which pair an examination with an experience requirement. On the academic side, SHRM aligns degree programs to its curriculum guidelines, which is the nearest thing this field has to programmatic accreditation. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a human resources management bachelor's or master's online while working in Illinois?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies HRCI or SHRM for current certification requirements.
What is the highest-paying area of Illinois for human resources specialists?
Among Illinois metro areas with published data, Springfield reports the highest median at $78,840 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for human resources specialists?
On pay, the state median of $76,820 sits above the national $75,940 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.99 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Human Resources Specialists (SOC 13-1071), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
