Government Jobs in Illinois: Employers & Pay

6,923

local governments (2022)

102

counties

2,719

cities, towns and townships

3,211

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Illinois state government pay plan

Illinois Department of Central Management Services publishes the classification and pay plan for Illinois state employees: 1,183 job classes and 915 pay grades, effective August 16, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the IL plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher, Telecommunicator Trainee, Telecommunicator 3 classes	$51,264 – $82,248
Accountant (government)	Transportation Accountant, Transportation Accountant Advanced, +2 more 4 classes	$56,304 – $110,856
Administrative Assistant (government)	Administrative Assistant I–II 2 classes	$70,008 – $118,512
Administrative Law Judge / Hearing Officer	Hearings Referee, Hearings Referee - Intermittent 2 classes	$96,720 – $158,454
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Institutions Examiner Trainee, Bank Examiner I–III, Financial Institutions Examiner I–III 7 classes	$59,064 – $140,784
Child Protective Services (CPS) Caseworker	Child Welfare Specialist 1 class	$77,520 – $118,512
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist Trainee, Child Support Specialist I–II 3 classes	$56,964 – $105,636
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Civil Engineer Trainee, Civil Engineer I–IV 5 classes	$55,572 – $140,784
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Contract Specialist I–III, Buyer 4 classes	$54,816 – $111,684
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Counselor I–III 3 classes	$63,936 – $118,512
Correctional Nurse	Corrections Nurse Trainee, Corrections Nurse I–II 3 classes	$73,620 – $129,912
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer Trainee, Correctional Officer 2 classes	$57,768 – $88,584
Court Reporter (official)	Court Reporter 1 class	$63,936 – $95,244
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Scientist Trainee, Forensic Scientist I–III, Crime Scene Investigator 5 classes	$63,936 – $140,784
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Housekeeper, Janitor I–II 3 classes	$44,760 – $94,776
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician I–IV 4 classes	$34,308 – $118,500
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer I–IV 4 classes	$63,936 – $140,784
Environmental Scientist (government)	Environmental Protection Specialist I–IV 4 classes	$61,524 – $149,964
Fire / Arson Investigator	Arson Investigator I–II 2 classes	$73,140 – $126,204
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Protection Specialist I 1 class	$66,864 – $100,464
Fish & Game Warden	Conservation Police Officer Trainee, Conservation Police Officer I–II 3 classes	$51,264 – $105,480
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Mechanic, Automotive Mechanic Trainee 2 classes	$68,436 – $98,916
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Meat & Poultry Inspector Trainee, Meat & Poultry Inspector 2 classes	$52,476 – $94,044
GIS Analyst / Specialist	Geographic Information Specialist I–II 2 classes	$77,520 – $149,964
Government Auditor	Internal Auditor Trainee, Internal Auditor I–II 3 classes	$56,964 – $125,268
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Environmental Health Specialist I–III 3 classes	$61,524 – $111,684
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Maintenance Equipment Operator, Heavy Construction Equipment Operator, Highway Construction Equipment Operator 3 classes	$73,620 – $113,232
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Highway Maintainer Trainee, Highway Maintainer 2 classes	$49,872 – $111,672
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resources Specialist 1 class	$81,840 – $125,268
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Revenue Tax Specialist Trainee, Revenue Auditor Trainee, +2 more 8 classes	$52,884 – $183,900
IT Specialist (government)	Information Technology Trainee, Information Systems Analyst I–III 4 classes	$63,936 – $183,144
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Office Clerk, Office Assistant, Office Specialist 3 classes	$44,760 – $78,204
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Ranger, Senior Ranger 2 classes	$59,064 – $90,852
Psychiatric Technician (state hospitals)	Mental Health Technician Trainee, Mental Health Technician I–VI 7 classes	$51,264 – $110,856
Public Information Officer	Public Information Coordinator, Public Information Officer III–IV 3 classes	$73,620 – $132,912
Social Worker (government)	Social Worker Intern, Social Worker I–IV 5 classes	$68,436 – $140,784
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Stationary Engineer, Stationary Engineer - Assistant Chief, Stationary Engineer - Chief 3 classes	No fixed rate
Urban / City Planner	Community Planner I–III 3 classes	$63,936 – $118,512
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Service Officer 1 class	$61,524 – $90,852
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor Trainee, Rehabilitation Counselor, Rehabilitation Counselor Senior 3 classes	$63,936 – $118,512

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Illinois Department of Central Management Services, Illinois CMS Alphabetic Index of Position Titles (FY 2027, effective July 1, 2026, corrected edition). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Illinois

Fire departments · 371

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Chicago Fire Department	Chicago	4,881	Official site
Rockford Fire Department	Rockford	272	Official site
Joliet Fire Department	Joliet	214	Official site
Aurora Fire Department	Aurora	213	Official site
Springfield Fire Department	Springfield	212	Official site
Peoria Fire Department	Peoria	201	Official site
Naperville Fire Department	Naperville	192	Official site
Schaumburg Fire Department	Schaumburg	138	Official site
Elgin Fire Department	Elgin	134	Official site
Bloomington Fire Department	Bloomington	119	Official site

All 371 fire departments in Illinois →

Transit agencies · 95

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Chicago Transit Authority	Chicago	2,505	Official site
Pace, the Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority	Arlington Heights	798	Official site
Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation	Chicago	447	Official site
Rides Mass Transit District	Harrisburg	116	Official site
South Central Illinois Mass Transit District	Centralia	112	Official site
Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District	Urbana	106	Official site
Springfield Mass Transit District	Springfield	66	Official site
Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District	Moline	56	Official site
Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System	Normal	52	Official site
Rockford Mass Transit District	Rockford	52	Official site

All 95 transit agencies in Illinois →

School districts · 855

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Chicago Public Schools Dist 299	Chicago	23,532	Official site
SD U-46	Elgin	2,367	Official site
Indian Prairie CUSD 204	Aurora	1,798	Official site
Plainfield SD 202	Plainfield	1,691	Official site
Rockford SD 205	Rockford	1,632	Official site
CUSD 300	Algonquin	1,455	Official site
Schaumburg CCSD 54	Schaumburg	1,291	Official site
Naperville CUSD 203	Naperville	1,186	Official site
Valley View CUSD 365U	Romeoville	1,178	Official site
CUSD 308	Oswego	1,145	Official site

All 855 school districts in Illinois →

Police departments · 722

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 722 police departments in Illinois →

Sheriff's offices · 102

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 102 sheriff's offices in Illinois →

Campus police departments · 50

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 50 campus police departments in Illinois →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Illinois

Median wage in Illinois for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in IL	Median in IL	National, government
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	171,300	$103,570	$137,300
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	138,910	$95,990	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	138,910	$95,990	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	138,910	$95,990	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	138,910	$95,990	$100,490
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	100,970	$46,130	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	95,980	$45,730	$46,170
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	93,760	$37,810	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	74,280	$48,310	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	74,280	$48,310	$48,290
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	64,210	$36,990	$36,990
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	61,520	$75,320	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	61,520	$75,320	$65,310
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	54,930	$80,230	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	54,930	$80,230	$81,390
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	45,820	$104,270	$96,570
Program Analyst (federal) SOC 13-1111	45,820	$104,270	$96,570
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	44,670	$79,990	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	44,670	$79,990	$74,220
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	35,430	$76,820	$80,330
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	34,780	$43,790	$40,080
Government Attorney (agency counsel) SOC 23-1011	33,590	$160,800	$134,680
Prosecutor / Assistant District Attorney SOC 23-1011	33,590	$160,800	$134,680
Public Defender SOC 23-1011	33,590	$160,800	$134,680
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	32,940	$82,070	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	32,940	$82,070	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	32,940	$82,070	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	32,940	$82,070	$91,060
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	29,180	$100,520	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	29,180	$100,520	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Illinois