Do paralegals need a license in Illinois?

No statewide license is required for paralegals in Illinois. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal), and AAfPE Certificate.

How to Become a Paralegal in Illinois (2026)

Q: How much do paralegals earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), paralegals in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $63,670.

Q: What is the job outlook for paralegals in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 14,130 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 0.2% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 14,130 paralegals earning a median $63,670 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). No statewide license is required; most paralegals train through a certificate program and earn an industry certification before employers will hire them.

Compare Paralegal Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Moraine Valley Community College	60.0	$3,822 in-state / $9,846 out-of-state	$51,357	40%	Yes*	74 mi
2	Waubonsee Community College	59.6	$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state	$51,678	39%	Yes*	60 mi
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3	Joliet Junior College	55.1	$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state	$51,121	21%	Yes*	52 mi
4	Triton College	54.9	$5,070 in-state / $15,330 out-of-state	$52,701	29%	Yes*	85 mi
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5	Kankakee Community College	53.4	$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state	$50,343	32%	Yes*	57 mi
6	Elgin Community College	50.2	$3,252 in-state / $9,516 out-of-state	$54,220	41%	—	77 mi
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7	Illinois Central College	50.0	$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state	$55,058	49%	Yes*	36 mi
8	Morton College	49.6	$5,502 in-state / $12,414 out-of-state	$46,999	31%	—	83 mi
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9	South Suburban College	48.6	$5,093 in-state / $12,683 out-of-state	$45,069	28%	Yes*	81 mi
10	College of DuPage	47.7	$4,560 in-state / $12,750 out-of-state	$55,984	25%	—	73 mi
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Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Illinois employs approximately 14,130 paralegals according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $63,670 ¹. Nationally, paralegal employment is projected to grow 0.2% from 2024 to 2034, with about 39,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Paralegal in Illinois, including certification options, 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): $63,670 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Paralegal in Illinois

How to become a Paralegal in Illinois? Illinois does not require a state license for paralegals, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal) and AAfPE Certificate. Complete a training program to prepare.

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

Do I need a license in Illinois? No state license is required, but certifications such as CP (Certified Paralegal) and AAfPE Certificate are expected by most employers.

What do paralegals earn in Illinois? The median annual wage for paralegals in Illinois is $63,670 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $46,860 and experienced professionals can earn $104,580 or more ¹.

How to Become a Paralegal 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 paralegal 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.
Earn an industry certification. While Illinois does not require a statewide license, earn CP (Certified Paralegal) to meet employer expectations and improve hiring prospects.

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

Paralegal Certification Options in Illinois

Illinois does not require a state license to work as a paralegal. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for paralegals include:

CP (Certified Paralegal)
AAfPE Certificate

For more information, visit the NALA - Paralegal Association ³. Contact training programs in Illinois for details on certification preparation courses.

Paralegal Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Paralegals and Legal Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), paralegals and legal 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	11,590	$70,550	$74,920	$50,160	$106,040
St. Louis	4,030	$61,970	$64,720	$45,950	$97,830
Peoria	370	$61,220	$66,090	$42,920	$98,230
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island	280	$57,030	$58,240	$38,280	$81,170
Bloomington	260	$60,160	$63,660	$46,590	$88,510
Springfield	230	$59,990	$62,490	$43,040	$78,350
Rockford	200	$59,700	$61,790	$40,430	$80,610
Champaign-Urbana	100	$58,580	$61,400	$45,910	$80,020
Paducah	90	$59,110	$57,640	$35,670	$75,880
Cape Girardeau	60	$46,160	$51,630	$40,570	$69,860
Decatur	30	$59,690	$61,830	$45,280	$85,050

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 paralegals in Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 14,130 paralegals ¹. Nationally, paralegal employment is projected to grow 0.2% 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 paralegals earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for paralegals in Illinois is $63,670, which is $2,660 above the national median of $61,010 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Illinois

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
NALA - Paralegal Association: https://www.nala.org/ ↩︎

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)