Highest Paying Jobs In Rockford, IL For 2026

As of 2026, the highest-paying jobs in Rockford span various industries such as healthcare, technology, and finance. If you’re seeking a lucrative career in the Rockford area, this updated list will guide you toward the best-paid professions currently available.

In this article, we highlight the 26 highest-paying jobs in Rockford utilizing the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While many high-paying positions require significant experience, there are also well-compensated entry-level roles for job seekers with the right educational qualifications.

Currently, the top-paying job in Rockford is the Anesthesiologist, with an average annual salary of $426,629 and an entry-level salary of $209,000.

Whether you are contemplating a career change, considering relocating to Rockford, or a recent graduate planning your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and best-paid industries in Rockford can help inform your next steps.

Here’s a brief overview of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Rockford, Illinois:

Anesthesiologist – $426,629
Cardiologist – $287,598
Hospitalist Physician – $263,255
Obstetrician/Gynecologist – $257,166
Internal Medicine Hospitalist – $248,234
Hospitalist – $241,450
Neonatologist – $239,496
Physician – $238,500
Acute Care Physician – $237,308
Family Medicine Physician – $219,631

Detailed list of highest paying jobs in Rockford

Rank	Job Title	Average Salary	Entry Level Salary
1	Anesthesiologist	$426,629	$209,000
2	Cardiologist	$287,598	$147,000
3	Hospitalist Physician	$263,255	$183,000
4	Obstetrician/Gynecologist	$257,166	$152,000
5	Internal Medicine Hospitalist	$248,234	$125,000
6	Hospitalist	$241,450	$159,000
7	Neonatologist	$239,496	$104,000
8	Physician	$238,500	$125,000
9	Acute Care Physician	$237,308	$140,000
10	Family Medicine Physician	$219,631	$132,000
11	Nephrologist	$216,368	$129,000
12	Primary Care Physician	$215,222	$123,000
13	General Internist	$213,800	$132,000
14	Internal Medicine Physician	$206,603	$125,000
15	Family Practice Physician	$200,648	$124,000
16	Optometrist	$186,256	$96,000
17	Owner/Operator	$179,051	$117,000
18	Sports Medicine Specialist	$170,979	$61,000
19	Dentist	$169,237	$115,000
20	General Dentist	$166,740	$113,000
21	Pediatric Physician Assistant	$163,104	$92,000
22	Family Practitioner	$156,864	$70,000
23	General Practitioner	$156,083	$72,000
24	Driver/Owner Operator	$143,831	$52,000
25	Chief Finance Officer	$141,581	$80,000
26	Vice President, Technology	$138,898	$96,000

How we determined the highest paid jobs in Rockford for 2026

To identify the highest-paying jobs in Rockford, we analyzed the most recent 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 continuously scans millions of job postings to gather salary information. We cross-reference these salaries with companies, locations, and job titles in other datasets to ensure accuracy.

Ultimately, we calculate a weighted average to produce estimated salaries for each job title in Rockford.

Editor’s Note: Article updated for 2026. This marks our eighth annual ranking of the highest paying jobs in Rockford.

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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