Civil Attorney Salary in Chicago, Illinois

How much does a Civil Attorney make in Chicago, IL?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Civil Attorney in Chicago, IL is $231,612. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $185,073 to a high of $277,105, with most professionals earning between $207,252 and $255,424.

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Salary range for an Civil Attorney

$207,252 to $255,424

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Civil Attorney

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Job Openings for Civil Attorney in Chicago, IL

What does a Civil Attorney do?

Common responsibilities of a Civil Attorney

Develop and maintain collaborative, cooperative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including clients, the community, the board of directors as well as employees at all levels of the organization.

December 02, 2022

Prepares and presents evidence and legal arguments, research, memoranda and legal pleadings encompassing a wide variety of civil matters and state and federal law affecting the City and its elected officials, departments and public bodies.

December 28, 2022

Demonstrated experience with affirmative civil rights/public interest complex litigation and/or investigations, including building cases and filing actions, discovery, and motion practice (specifically taking and defending depositions or witness interviews, drafting investigation/discovery plans, drafting and filing dispositive motions, engaging in oral argument).

January 30, 2023

Requires a minimum of four years of progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, with a preference that a portion of which has included local governmental law or the equivalent.

February 05, 2023

Train, conduct community outreach, and provide education for individuals, local community-based organizations, and housing advocates.

March 10, 2023

Active membership in the State Bar of California and the equivalent of eight years of relevant post-bar experience in a legal setting such as a private law practice, corporation, government agency, law school, court, or legal publishing company.

March 13, 2023

Represent clients in administrative hearings, city, state and federal court proceedings, and affirmative litigation, and advocate with local, state and federal agencies.

March 26, 2023

Respond to communications and notices regarding potential litigation matters.

April 08, 2023

Assist in the direct supervision and mentoring of staff attorneys, paralegals, and volunteers who work predominantly with non-detained immigrants in removal proceedings, including but not limited to immigrants with criminal convictions, asylum seekers, adults with children, and unaccompanied minors, as well as with affirmative immigration benefits applications before USCIS.

May 02, 2023

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Civil Attorney Salary By Experience Levels in Chicago, IL

How much should you be earning in Civil Attorney in Chicago, IL based on your current experience?

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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE

Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Civil Attorney Salary By Level of Education in Chicago, IL

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LEVEL OF EDUCATION

Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Average Salary Range for Civil Attorney in Chicago, IL

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

207252

255424

231612

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

233331

306324

267702

What is the average salary for Civil Attorney in 2025?

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Civil Attorney in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Civil Attorney ranges from $207,252 to $255,424 with the average base salary of $231,612. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $233,331 to $306,324 with the average total cash compensation of $267,702.

View Average Salary for Civil Attorney as table

	Average Salary	Average Salary Range
Base Salary	$231,612	$207,252 - $255,424
Bonus	$36,090	$26,080 - $50,900
Total Pay	$267,702	$233,331 - $306,324

* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.

* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.

Civil Attorney Salary Near Chicago, IL

CITY, STATE	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Cicero, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $208,417 - $256,861	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Oak Park, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $208,417 - $256,861	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Oak Lawn, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $208,180 - $256,569	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Evanston, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $208,338 - $256,764	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Skokie, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $208,338 - $256,764	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Arlington Heights, IL	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $203,674 - $251,015	COMPARE TO Chicago, IL

See salaries for Civil Attorney in locations close to Chicago, IL. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.

About Chicago, Illinois

Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third most populous city in the United States. With an estimated population of 2,716,450 (2017), it is the most populous city in the Midwest. Chicago is the principal city of the Chicago metropolitan area, often referred to as Chicagoland, and the county seat of Cook County, the second most populous county in the United States. The metropolitan area, at nearly 10 million people, is the third-largest in the United States, and the fourth largest in North A...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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The Civil Attorney job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Chicago, IL that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.

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