University Professor

University Professor Salary in Illinois

$41.2K

$71.7K

$130.8K

$77,577

/year

$37.30

/hour

University Professor Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$80,057

Illinois

Illinois

$77,577

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    How much does an University Professor make in Illinois?

    As of May 28, 2026, the average annual pay for an University Professor in Illinois is $77,577 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $37.30 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,491/week or $6,464/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $130,818 and as low as $41,184, the majority of University Professor salaries currently range between $58,100 (25th percentile) to $88,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $114,344 annually in Illinois. The average pay range for an University Professor varies greatly (by as much as 30600), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    Illinois ranks number 50 out of 50 states nationwide for University Professor salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for University Professor jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as an University Professor on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for University Professor Jobs in Illinois

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for an University Professor job is above the average in Illinois in Illinois. Topping the list is Evanston, , with Peoria, and Chicago, close behind in the second and third positions. Chicago, beats the average in Illinois by $4,958 (6.4%), and Evanston, furthers that trend with another $13,219 (17.0%) above the $77,577 average.

    With these 10 cities paying on average above the average for Illinois, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as an University Professor appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 13% between Evanston, and Aurora, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for an University Professor role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Evanston

    $90,796

    $43.65

    Peoria

    $90,286

    $43.41

    Chicago

    $82,535

    $39.68

    Romeoville

    $81,627

    $39.24

    Urbana

    $80,573

    $38.74

    Champaign

    $80,174

    $38.55

    Carbondale

    $80,007

    $38.46

    Naperville

    $79,937

    $38.43

    Downers Grove

    $79,883

    $38.41

    Aurora

    $79,371

    $38.16

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related University Professor Jobs in Illinois

    Analyzing similar jobs related to the University Professor job category in Illinois, we found 5 that were relevant. However, none pay more than the $77577 state average for University Professor jobs.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Economics Professor

    $158,457

    $76.18

    Research Professor

    $110,949

    $53.34

    Online Business Professor

    $92,398

    $44.42

    Assistant Professor Of Business

    $63,927

    $30.73

    Assistant Professor Of Education

    $57,079

    $27.44

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing University Professor salary in Illinois as of May 2026. Shows a bar chart with salary percentiles ranging from $58,100 to $114,344 annually, with the Illinois average at $77,577 per year or $37.30 per hour. Includes a list of the top 10 highest paying cities in Illinois for University Professor jobs, with Evanston leading at $90,796 annually.