CPA Salary in Illinois (2026)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports $88,910 in annual mean pay and $80,230 in annual median pay for accountants and auditors in Illinois. The mean is influenced by higher-paid roles, while the median marks the midpoint of the published wage distribution.

These figures are the most defensible statewide benchmark available here, but they are not a CPA premium study. Use them to anchor an offer comparison, then account for certification, specialty, city, employer, responsibility, and experience.

The lower end of the BLS distribution runs from $54,510 at the 10th percentile to $66,290 at the 25th percentile. Because BLS does not classify wages by years of experience, this range should not be described as a guaranteed starting salary.

At the upper end, the 75th percentile is $102,270 and the 90th percentile is $131,990. Those values describe the occupation distribution, not a promised senior, manager, director, or partner salary.

CPA status can strengthen a candidate's position, but compensation still depends on the work performed. Public accounting, corporate reporting, tax, audit, advisory, government, and nonprofit roles can sit at different points in the statewide distribution.

Compare total compensation as well as base pay. Bonuses, retirement contributions, health coverage, overtime expectations, remote-work terms, and the local cost of housing can materially change the value of an offer.