{"id":2497921,"date":"2025-10-11T16:28:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illinois-has-among-highest-paid-state-employees\/"},"modified":"2025-10-11T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2025-10-11T20:31:32","slug":"illinois-has-among-highest-paid-state-employees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illinois-has-among-highest-paid-state-employees\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois has among highest-paid state employees"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fillinois-has-among-highest-paid-state-employees%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2497921&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses how Illinois state employees rank among the highest-paid in the United States, despite the state&#8217;s moderate cost of living, which is ranked around 19th to 24th most expensive nationally. According to data from OpenPayrolls, the average state government salary in Illinois in 2023 (excluding university jobs) is approximately $79,000. Lawmakers recently approved raises, increasing their base pay to about $98,000, placing them in the top 5 highest-paid state legislatures.<\/p>\n<p>The Illinois Policy institute notes that wages for state employees in the AFSCME council 31 union have grown 57% faster as 2021 compared to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/florida-reports-18-consecutive-months-of-private-sector-job-growth\/\" title=\"Florida Reports 18 Consecutive Months of ... Job Growth\">private sector jobs<\/a>, with an average state employee wage of about $85,000 versus $78,000 in the private sector.The union&#8217;s latest contract includes an 18% pay increase over four years.<\/p>\n<p>Top earners in the state government include administrators in the Teachers&#8217; retirement System and medical administrators, with salaries ranging from around $300,000 to over $500,000. Illinois supreme Court justices earn about $299,000 annually, while other judges earn slightly less.Governor JB Pritzker, a billionaire, has declined his salary.<\/p>\n<p>The article also touches on issues of state budget increases and expenditures, including the creation of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion aimed at <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >ensuring state contracts benefit minority<\/a> and disadvantaged business owners, even though progress has been limited.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Illinois has among highest-paid state employees<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2369460\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; The average wages for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Illinois<\/a> state employees are among the highest in the nation and belie the state&rsquo;s more modest cost-of-living rankings, according to state and federal data.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/meric.mo.gov\/data\/cost-living-data-series\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A living cost analysis<\/a>&nbsp;this year by the Economic Research and Information Center in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/missouri\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Missouri<\/a> ranked Illinois as the 24th most-expensive state. That is similar to the findings of the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis, which placed Illinois 19th among states and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/district-of-columbia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">District of Columbia<\/a>, where it is most expensive to live.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3846846\/crypto-market-plummets-china-tariff-shrinking-trump-portfolio\/\">Crypto market&nbsp;plummets&nbsp;after China tariff announcement, shrinking Trump&#8217;s own portfolio<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3843817\/second-round-october-social-security-payments-out-four-days\/\">Second round of October Social Security payments goes out in four days<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/3843978\/november-social-security-direct-payment-worth-967-out-20-days\/\">November Social Security direct payments worth $967 go out in 20 days<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>But Illinois is among the Top&nbsp;5 states for highest salaries for state workers,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/openpayrolls.com\/rank\/highest-paying-employers\/state\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to OpenPayrolls<\/a>, which tracks the data nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>It found that the average annual state government salary in 2023 in Illinois, excluding university jobs, is about $79,000.<\/p>\n<p>That pay has been further buoyed by raises since, including a recently self-imposed raise for lawmakers that increased their base pay to $98,000, which is also in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoispolicy.org\/illinois-lawmakers-making-128k-for-70-days-of-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Top 5 among states<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A review by the Illinois Policy Institute this year found that pay for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/when-the-media-tries-to-wash-their-hands-of-andrew-cuomo-remind-them-of-these-comments\/\" title=\"When The Media Tries To Wash Their Hands Of Andrew Cuomo, Remind Them Of These Comments\">state government employees<\/a> who are represented by the AFSCME Council 31 union has increased&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.illinoispolicy.org\/state-government-salaries-have-grown-57-faster-than-private-sector-since-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">57% faster<\/a>&nbsp;since 2021 than for private sector jobs.<\/p>\n<p>The group &mdash; which is highly critical of government spending &mdash; calculated an average wage for those state employees at about $85,000, whereas it said comparable private sector jobs paid about $78,000.<\/p>\n<p>AFSCME&rsquo;s latest contract with the state included pay increases that total about 18% over the course of four years.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a lack of a fight in negotiation on behalf of taxpayers,&rdquo; Dylan Sharkey, of Illinois Policy, told The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. JB Pritzker&rsquo;s office did not immediately respond to a request to comment for this article.<\/p>\n<p>The Center Square exposed&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/illinois\/article_d5bc09e2-ab3d-48c6-9f7d-3ef6ce6bc0f0.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the state&rsquo;s ballooning budgets<\/a>,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/illinois\/article_0a78e3a2-8939-4d57-a6ee-92e0828eadd1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pritzker called for a 4% reduction<\/a>&nbsp;soon after.&nbsp;The Center Square also&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/illinois\/article_05a70ee4-5c31-4ac2-a881-96f4f779be65.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recently reported<\/a>&nbsp;on the millions the state has spent in recent years for its new Commission on Equity and Inclusion, which is mostly charged with ensuring that a certain percentage of state contract money goes to businesses owned by racial minorities, women, and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>That agency &mdash; formed in 2022 &mdash; has seven commissioners who earn more than $150,000 each year and are allowed to have other jobs. Their tracking data show the state is farther from its goal than when the commission began its work.<\/p>\n<p>State employees who earn by far the most are University of Illinois coaches. The Fighting Illini head football coach, Bret Bielema, has a base salary of $7.7 million.<\/p>\n<p>No one in state government eclipses $1 million, according to state salary data obtained by The Center Square. Here are the highest earners:<\/p>\n<p>The top two salaries belong to administrators of the Teachers&rsquo; Retirement System, a pension system for school personnel throughout the state, excluding Chicago. Executive Director Robert Rupnik has a base salary of about $518,000. Ghiane Jones, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californias-state-pension-invests-millions-in-chinese-state-owned-companies\/\" title=\"California\u2019s State Pension Invests Millions in Chinese State-Owned Companies\">deputy chief investment officer<\/a>, earns about $398,000. The eighth-highest state salary of about $327,000 goes to the retirement system&rsquo;s lead attorney, Emily Peterson.<\/p>\n<p>Medical administrators and physicians occupy the rest of the state&rsquo;s Top 20 salaries. The medical administrators for the departments of Corrections and Human Services have base salaries of between $310,000 and $345,000. The top physicians earn about $307,000.<\/p>\n<p>The state&rsquo;s seven Supreme Court justices have annual salaries of about $299,000. The more than 40 other appellate judges earn $281,000. Hundreds of other judges make at least $245,000.<\/p>\n<p>General counsel for the governor, Ann Spillane, has a base salary of about $298,000.<\/p>\n<p>Pritzker, a billionaire heir of the Hyatt fortune, has forgone his salary of more than $200,000.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3815067\/trump-terrorist-organizations-antifa-tren-de-aragua-ms-13-houthis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HERE ARE THE GROUPS TRUMP HAS DESIGNATED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Other leaders of the executive branch have the following salaries set by state statute:<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias: $212,400<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Attorney General Kwame Raoul: $212,400<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Treasurer Michael Frerichs: $186,000<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Comptroller Susana Mendoza: $186,000<\/p>\n<p>&ndash; Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton: $186,000<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Illinois ranks high in state employee wages despite costs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2497923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP060621046931.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[65044,6413,64349,11543,65045],"class_list":["post-2497921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-highest-paid-employees","tag-illinois","tag-public-sector","tag-salary","tag-state-workers"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP060621046931.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2497921"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2497925,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2497921\/revisions\/2497925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2497923"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2497921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2497921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2497921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}