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Human Resources Managers Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Human Resources Managers salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$151,370
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$149,427
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Human Resources Managers earning $151,370 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $149,427 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $90,820 $89,654 $-1,165
25th Percentile (P25) $114,940 $113,464 $-1,475
Median (P50) $151,370 $149,427 $-1,942
75th Percentile (P75) $196,630 $194,106 $-2,523
90th Percentile (P90) $267,520 $264,086 $-3,433
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $151,370 keeps most of its value at $149,427 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Human Resources Managers is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $151,370 nominal nets out to $149,427 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Human Resources Managers.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#16 / 51

Illinois sits at #16 of 51 states for Human Resources Managers COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Human Resources Managers (After Cost of Living)

Where does Human Resources Managers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$166,160
RPP 109.4
$164,172
RPP 107.6
$162,658
RPP 102.3
$162,566
RPP 102.1
$159,608
RPP 104.7
$158,492
RPP 108.8
$158,104
RPP 116.6
$157,389
RPP 97.7
9. Georgia
$157,306
RPP 95.8
10. Delaware
$157,030
RPP 98.0

Illinois ranks #16 out of 51 states for Human Resources Managers after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Human Resources Managers take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Human Resources Managers in Illinois after cost of living?

A Human Resources Managers in Illinois earns a median salary of $151,370 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $149,427 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Human Resources Managers in Illinois: $151,370 x (100 / 101.3) = $149,427. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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