Up to $10K a month working for Illinois? Check out state jobs open now and what they pay
If you’re searching for a new job before the new year, you may want to check out these open positions with the Illinois state government.
Unemployment held steady again in the state in October, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained at 5.3%, the same number from August and September after four consecutive monthly increases.
Illinois offers unemployment assistance to eligible applicants with acceptable reasons for leaving their last job. In addition, two new labor-related laws went into effect July 1, including the Freelance Worker Protection Act and protections for child social media influencers. Another employment law will take effect Wednesday, Jan. 1, requiring employers with 15 or more employees to include pay scale and benefit information in job postings.
The Illinois state government is hiring for more than 370 positions across the Land of Lincoln as of Monday. Here’s what to know about positions available with the Illinois state government in the metro-east and statewide.
Clinical director
Agency: Department of Human Services
Wage: $108,552 to $127,920 per year anticipated salary
Location: Centralia
Application deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 11
Minimum qualifications for this position include a master’s degree in social work from an accredited school, four years “progressively responsible administrative experience” in a recognized social services agency and licensure by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation as a licensed clinical social worker. The job posting also lists eight preferred qualifications.
Job responsibilities include, the listing says:
“Serves as the Clinical Director for Murray Developmental Center.
Develops and implements contemporary psychological/clinical programs.
Serves as full-line supervisor.
Attends treatment team meetings on a regular basis and provides treatment team staff with guidance and direction in optimal treatment planning.
Writes, reviews, and maintains various facility manuals which govern the areas of Admissions and Discharges, Clinical Assessment, Treatment Planning and Patient Care Monitoring.
Serves and participates on various facility committees.”
You can apply for the clinical director position online.
Automotive mechanic
Agency: Department of Transportation
Wage: $5,836 per month anticipated starting pay; full range is $5,836 to $7,296 per month
Location: Chicago
Application deadline: Friday, Dec. 13
Minimum qualifications for this position include “knowledge, skill and mental development” equivalent to completion of four years of high school or coursework in vehicle repair and maintenance or completion of an approved training course, a valid commercial driver’s license Class A and “experience necessary to qualify as a skilled mechanic” the listing says. The job posting also lists nine preferred qualifications.
Job responsibilities include, the listing says:
“Performs mechanical repairs on vehicles assigned to field headquarters and also conducts repairs at the site of a disabled vehicle.
Performs regular inspection and maintenance of vehicles on an established schedule.
Maintains accurate and timely records of all maintenance and repairs performed.
Performs minor welding and fabrication.”
You can apply for the automotive mechanic position online.
Paralegal
Agency: Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois
Wage: $53,718 to $68,759 per year
Location: Springfield
Application deadline: Dec. 13
Minimum qualifications for this position include three years of experience as a paralegal in a law firm or legal office setting and paralegal certification or equivalent professional certification, the listing says, and a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies at an accredited institution is “strongly preferred.”
Job responsibilities include, the listing says:
“Prepare departmental documents for routine and special projects.
Communicate in a positive and professional manner on behalf of the department with internal and external parties.
Perform legal research using Westlaw and other external and internal resources.
Review Powers of Attorney, guardianship documents, withholding orders, and similar documents as directed by the attorneys.
Assist with review and processing of Qualified Illinois Domestic Relations Orders (QILDROs) and providing Benefit Information for Divorce statements.
Assist with benefit overpayment collection matters in coordination with the accounting department.
Prepare and compile documents and perform research regarding felony forfeitures.
Maintain familiarity with technical functionality of the public record FOIA portal. Assist internal users and requesters in the use of the [Freedom of Information Act] FOIA portal. Provide backup assistance to the FOIA officer.
Coordinate with System counsel, the hearing officer, and the board’s executive assistant to draft and organize documents and to prepare hearing records for presentation to the claims hearing committee of the TRS board of trustees.
Assist with litigation matters as directed by the attorneys.
Assist with review of routine investment documentation.”
You can apply for the paralegal position online.
Snow removal operator
Agency: Department of Transportation
Wage: $25 per hour (temporary, on-call position)
Location: This listing is for East Alton, but the position is also available in Belleville, East St. Louis, Carlyle and more metro-east locations.
Application deadline: Monday, Dec. 16
This position is also referred to as “hourly snowbird.” Minimum qualifications include “knowledge, skill and mental development” equivalent to the completion of four years of high school, one year driving experience immediately preceding appointment free of incidents which could result in license suspension or revocation and possession of a Class B CDL with appropriate endorsements, to include X or N and no airbrake restrictions, is acceptable for a period of two years. At the beginning of the third year from the initial hire date, a seasonal employee must possess a Class A CDL with appropriate endorsements, to include X or N and no airbrake restrictions, the listing says.
Responsibilities include, according to the listing:
“Operates CDL Class A or B licensed vehicles.
Assists in emergency snow and ice control.
Assists in servicing, washing, and making minor repairs of equipment such as trucks, tractors, snowplows, salt spreaders, compressors, graders and other light highway equipment.
Performs routine housekeeping duties and other tasks associated with the general care of the headquarters grounds.”
You can apply for the hourly snowbird position online.
Registered nurse I
Agency: Department of Human Services
Wage: $73,668 to $99,936 yearly anticipated salary
Location: Centralia
Application deadline: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Minimum qualifications for this position include graduation from an approved nursing education program with an associate or diploma degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and licensure as a registered nurse in the state of Illinois, the listing says.
Job responsibilities include, according to the listing:
“Provides professional nursing care to individuals served on an assigned shift.
Provides work-related guidance, instructions and explanations to lower-level nursing staff and other direct support staff in the care of individuals, injury reduction, health and safety, hygiene, treatment, procedures and the use of equipment.
Attends treatment team meetings to update the Interdisciplinary Team on changes in medical status, additional medical needs and completes paperwork to document medical information in accordance with policies and guidelines.
Performs quality assurance activities including: conducting audits and preparing Infection Control Reports.
Attends training to keep abreast of latest nursing techniques and concepts.
Serves as Center-wide medical/nursing resource on the assigned shift during the absence of other professional nursing personnel.”
You can apply to the registered nurse position online.
Do you have a question about employment in Illinois for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Metro-east Matters form below.
