Physician Salary in Illinois: $236K Median

The average Physician salary in Illinois is $236,179 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $180,250 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $412,000 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Physicians in Illinois earn approximately 3% more than the US national median ($229,300 nationally vs $236,179 in Illinois). Illinois's cost-of-living index of 100 is close to the national average.

Yes — Physician salaries in Illinois grew approximately 560.0% year-over-year, from $35,785 in 2025 to $236,179 in 2026. This reflects the broader Healthcare sector's wage growth, driven by Telemedicine and AI-assisted diagnosis demand.

Top-paying Illinois metros for Physicians: Chicago ($241K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

Physician demand strong with growing US population. Specialties like radiology, anesthesiology, and orthopedics paying $400K+. Illinois's top industries include Finance, Manufacturing, Logistics, and the state's unemployment rate is 4.8% — steady demand for skilled workers.

Yes, Illinois has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $236,179, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Telemedicine, AI-assisted diagnosis, Concierge medicine, Specialty practice, EHR efficiency. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Illinois employers.

Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles), Tuition reimbursement and certification stipends, Loan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible), Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%). Walk-away anchor for Illinois: $214,708.