How to Become a Legal Secretary in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do legal secretaries earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), legal secretaries in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $52,790. Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.31 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for legal secretaries in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 8,030 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -5.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois legal secretaries and administrative assistants earn a median annual wage of $52,790 ($25.38/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 8,030 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -5.0% below the national median of $55,570 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $52,790 ($25.38/hr)
25th percentile: $47,120 per year
75th percentile: $68,030 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $99,470 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $41,600 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 8,030
Versus national median: -5.0% below the U.S. median of $55,570
Job concentration: Location quotient 1.31 - this occupation is more concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 8,030 legal secretaries earning a median $52,790 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Most legal secretaries train through an approved program before entering the field in Illinois.

Illinois employs approximately 8,030 legal secretaries according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $52,790 ¹. The state’s concentration of legal secretary jobs is 1.31x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 19,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Legal Secretary in Illinois, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school or community college
Typical timeline: varies by program; confirm with the school
Median wage (Illinois): $52,790 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Legal Secretary in Illinois

How to become a Legal Secretary in Illinois? Complete a training program or apprenticeship, gain work experience, and meet any state or employer requirements for legal secretaries in Illinois.

How long does it take? legal secretary training length in Illinois varies by program. Confirm current requirements with the school and the state board before you enroll.

What do legal secretaries earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in Illinois is $52,790 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $41,600 and experienced professionals can earn $99,470 or more ¹.

How to Become a Legal Secretary in Illinois

Finish high school or earn a GED. Most Illinois training programs require a high school diploma or GED to enroll.
Complete an approved training program. Enroll in an approved legal secretary program in Illinois that combines classroom instruction with supervised practice.
Gain supervised work experience. Build documented on-the-job hours under a qualified supervisor; confirm the exact total currently required with the licensing board.
Meet state and employer requirements. Confirm any registration, certification, or employer requirements that apply to legal secretaries in Illinois before you start working.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.

Legal Secretary Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), legal secretaries and administrative assistants 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	6,120	$59,490	$64,840	$47,120	$99,990
St. Louis	1,380	$48,200	$54,460	$38,560	$79,350
Peoria	150	$46,940	$53,830	$38,920	$78,790
Rockford	150	$46,730	$50,850	$39,270	$61,240
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	100	$46,190	$48,290	$36,950	$60,690
Springfield	100	$49,290	$55,550	$39,620	$78,030
Champaign-Urbana	80	$46,460	$53,860	$44,430	$79,200
Bloomington	60	$48,370	$52,110	$36,410	$74,320
Paducah	50	$38,910	$39,870	$29,400	$50,540

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for legal secretaries in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 8,030 legal secretaries ¹. Nationally, legal secretary employment is projected to grow -5.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do legal secretaries earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for legal secretaries in Illinois is $52,790, which is $1,350 below the national median of $54,140 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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Citations

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/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)