Highest Paying Jobs In Chicago For 2026

As we step into 2026, the job market in Chicago showcases a diverse range of high-paying professions across various industries, including healthcare, technology, and finance. If you are seeking a lucrative career in the Chicago area, this comprehensive list will guide you to the top-paying roles currently available.

This article covers the 30 highest-paying jobs in Chicago for 2026, utilizing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Many of these positions demand extensive experience, but there are also attractive entry-level opportunities for candidates with the right educational qualifications.

The highest-paying job in Chicago remains the Anesthesiologist, boasting an average annual salary of $419,993 and an entry-level salary of $206,000.

Whether you’re contemplating a career shift, considering relocating to Chicago, or you are a recent graduate mapping out your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and leading industries in Chicago is designed to assist you in making informed decisions about your next career move.

Here’s a snapshot of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Chicago, Illinois:

Anesthesiologist – $419,993
Dermatologist – $374,352
Practicing MD Anesthesiologist – $373,675
Pulmonologist – $357,491
Hematologist – $347,672
Pediatric Surgeon – $321,694
Anesthesia Resident – $296,162
Anesthesiology Resident – $288,982
Radiologist – $288,260
Cardiologist – $285,356

How We Determined the Highest Paid Jobs in Chicago for 2026

To identify the highest-paying jobs in Chicago, we analyzed the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and additional reputable sources.

Zippia’s data science team enriches this information by continuously scanning millions of job postings daily to extract published salary data. We integrate these salaries with details regarding companies, locations, and job titles from various datasets.

Ultimately, we compute a weighted average of these inputs to estimate a salary for each job title in Chicago.

In total, our team examined salary data for over 1,000 job titles in Chicago to identify the most lucrative positions in the market.

Detailed List of Highest Paying Jobs in Chicago

Rank	Job Title	Average Salary	Entry Level Salary
1	Anesthesiologist	$419,993	$206,000
2	Dermatologist	$374,352	$189,000
3	Practicing MD Anesthesiologist	$373,675	$178,000
4	Pulmonologist	$357,491	$172,000
5	Hematologist	$347,672	$170,000
6	Pediatric Surgeon	$321,694	$165,000
7	Anesthesia Resident	$296,162	$137,000
8	Anesthesiology Resident	$288,982	$135,000
9	Radiologist	$288,260	$142,000
10	Cardiologist	$285,356	$146,000
11	Staff Psychiatrist	$279,235	$180,000
12	President/Chief Executive Officer	$277,963	$147,000
13	Assistant Professor Of Surgery	$276,040	$138,000
14	Child Psychiatrist	$268,543	$166,000
15	Hospitalist Physician	$261,364	$181,000
16	Psychiatrist	$258,796	$155,000
17	Physician-Pediatrician	$257,280	$155,000
18	Pulmonary Physician	$255,226	$134,000
19	Obstetrician/Gynecologist	$253,295	$150,000
20	Obstetrics Gynecology Physician	$250,063	$121,000
21	Consultant and Sales Representative	$249,444	$175,000
22	Internal Medicine Hospitalist	$249,001	$126,000
23	Anesthesiologist/Physician	$248,757	$128,000
24	Periodontist	$245,158	$149,000
25	Vice President, Corporate Development	$244,977	$150,000
26	Adult Psychiatrist	$242,057	$151,000
27	Physician	$239,405	$125,000
28	Interventional Pain Physician	$239,315	$124,000
29	Hospitalist	$239,020	$158,000
30	Medical Director	$239,011	$153,000

Editor’s Note: Article updated for 2026. This marks our ninth iteration of ranking the highest-paying jobs in Chicago.

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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