Tax Preparers · Illinois

Tax Preparers Salary in Illinois

Tax Preparers in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $54,480 —0.8% below the national median of $54,920. That ranks IL #18 of 48 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$54,480
Median hourly
$26.19
Entry level (P10)
$33,030
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$76,150
90th percentile
Employment
1,310
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-0.8%
U.S. $54,920

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$33,030
$38,120
$54,480
$62,910
$33,030$54,480$76,150
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $54,480.

Employment is only 0.44× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for tax preparers

All 48 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1New York$71,850$34.547,6201.60
2California$70,030$33.6710,2701.15
3Utah$66,720$32.081,1901.40
4Montana$63,080$30.333601.42
5Missouri$62,780$30.181,3300.92
6Colorado$62,620$30.111,5401.09
7Alaska$62,360$29.98700.46
8Oregon$61,370$29.511,5901.64
9New Hampshire$61,370$29.514201.24
10Pennsylvania$61,270$29.462,0100.67

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do tax preparers make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for tax preparers in Illinois is $54,480, or $26.19 per hour. That is 0.8% below the national median of $54,920.

What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $33,030 per year ($15.88/hour). The 25th percentile is $38,120.

How many people work as tax preparers in Illinois?

About 1,310 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for tax preparers?

Illinois ranks #18 of 48 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.44x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays tax preparers the most?

New York has the highest median wage at $71,850 per year, followed by California ($70,030) and Utah ($66,720).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes