Lawyers pay range in Champaign
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $303,410 or more. The middle half of lawyers in Champaign earn between $93,940 and $197,830.
- $77K10th
- $94K25th
- $130KMedian
- $198K75th
- $303K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $160,490 | $13,374 | $77.16 |
| Median | $129,990 | $10,832 | $62.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,940 | $7,828 | $45.16 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $197,830 | $16,486 | $95.11 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Lawyers pay in Champaign vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Lawyers in Champaign earn 11% less than the Illinois average ($181,240) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($185,840). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $159,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $160,490 | $129,990 | $76,630 | $303,410 | 250 |
| Illinois | $181,240 | $160,800 | $82,160 | $330,200 | 33,590 |
| United States | $185,840 | $159,670 | $78,360 | $351,600 | 754,500 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Lawyers salary after taxes in Champaign
On the average salary of $160,490, a single filer in Champaign takes home about $113,158 a year, or $9,430 a month and $4,352 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Champaign a good place for lawyers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Champaign area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $160,490 buys what about $173,121 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Champaign ($50,700). A typical home costs $237,290, or 1.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Lawyers salary in other Illinois cities
Champaign ranks 3rd of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($187,420).
- Chicago$187,420
- Peoria$171,780
- Champaign$160,490
- Springfield$143,130
- Kankakee$142,730
- Bloomington$136,440
- Rockford$136,090
- Decatur$126,430
Highest-paying cities for lawyers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($288,980).
- San Jose, CA$288,980
- Santa Rosa, CA$248,950
- Los Angeles, CA$241,500
- San Francisco, CA$237,060
- Bridgeport, CT$231,710
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Lawyers salary in Champaign: questions
How much do lawyers make an hour in Champaign?
$77.16 an hour on average, and $62.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level lawyers salary in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,940, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the lawyers take-home pay in Champaign?
About $113,158 a year ($9,430 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $160,490.
Do lawyers earn more in Champaign than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($185,840).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 23-1011; area Champaign-Urbana, IL (16580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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