Human Resources Managers Salary
In Illinois, human resources managers earn $151,370 at the median, or about $72.78 an hour. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $268K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $161,289 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 15.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $151K get you in Illinois?
About human resources managers
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What this looks like in Illinois
Human resources managers pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $151K locally vs. $149K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 15.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $151K. Top earners bring in $268K or more, a $177K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $157K | +4% | 10,810 |
| Peoria | $154K | +2% | 310 |
| Bloomington | $145K | -4% | 170 |
| Springfield | $129K | -15% | 140 |
| Decatur | $128K | -15% | 50 |
| Rockford | $123K | -19% | 200 |
| Kankakee | $122K | -20% | 60 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $121K | -20% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $151K, rent takes 15.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for human resources managers in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,449/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $151K locally vs. $149K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for human resources managers?
Illinois pays $151K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $161K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Illinois?
The median is $151,370 a year, that works out to about $73 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,820, and experienced human resources managers can clear $267,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $151K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,893/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 15.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median human resources managers salary is worth about $161,289 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.