Up to $120K per year working for Illinois? Check out state jobs open now & what they pay
Looking for a new job in 2025? The Illinois state government is hiring for hundreds of open positions statewide, including some in the metro-east.
Unemployment held steady again in the state in November, according to the latest available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate remained at 5.3%, the same as August, September and October after four consecutive monthly increases.
Many updated and new laws went into effect in Illinois New Year’s Day, including several affecting employment rights.
One new provision will protect employees from discrimination based on family responsibilities, while another adds reproductive health care decisions as a protected characteristic. Child labor laws were also overhauled to update requirements for work permits and set specific hours for when minors can work based on whether school is in session.
Another major update to Illinois employment law is the pay transparency amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, requiring employers with more than 15 employees to include pay scale and benefit information in job postings. Illinois state government positions have already included pay range information, but many private businesses will now do so, as well.
The Illinois state government is hiring for more than 280 positions across the Land of Lincoln as of Jan. 7. Here’s what to know about positions available in the metro-east and statewide.
IDVA central office travel coordinator
Agency: Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Wage: $5,703 to $8,170 per month, anticipated starting salary is $5,703
Location: Springfield
Application deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 14
Minimum qualifications for this position include “knowledge, skill, and mental development” equivalent to the completion of four years of college, preferably with courses in public or business administration, and one year of responsible administrative experience in a public or business organization, or completion of an agency-approved professional management training program, the listing says.
The listing also includes several preferred qualifications, including two years of experience in an office setting utilizing strong computer skills, particularly in Excel, and a working knowledge of other Microsoft Office products, one year of experience using state accounting software and more.
Job responsibilities include, according to the listing:
“Organizes, plans, controls, and evaluates statewide travel processes for the Department
Enforces late travel submission policy by identifying travel vouchers printed more than 60 days after the last date of travel and forwarding to the Payroll Unit to be paid as wages, sending logs of late vouchers to Labor Relations on a regular basis
Obtains updated forms and documents in a timely manner upon the naming of a new agency head
As needed, recreates files using Access queries to comply with staff needs and Illinois Office of Comptroller requirements
Writes policy and procedural postings for dissemination and creates memos and letters for Veterans Affairs
Provides and processes request forms to staff”
You can apply for the IDVA central office travel coordinator position online.
Office coordinator
Agency: Department of Natural Resources
Wage: $3,971 anticipated starting monthly salary, full range is $3,971 to $5,243 per month
Location: Granite City
Application deadline: Jan. 14
Minimum qualifications for this position include “knowledge, skill, and mental development” equivalent to two years of secretarial or business college, or completion of high school and two years of related office experience or two years of independent business experience, the listing says.
The listing also includes preferred qualifications, such as one year of extensive knowledge of basic mathematics, one year of working knowledge of the logic of computer programs, one year of experience having the ability to follow oral or written instructions and one year of extensive knowledge of composition, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Job responsibilities include, according to the listing:
“Under direction, provides complex, specialized office support functions for the Site Superintendent for Horseshoe Lake, Frank Holten, and other locations as assigned
Develops complex, multi-program databases, spreadsheets, forms, and applications for efficient completion of routine reports
Serves as timekeeper for Horseshoe Lake-Madison, Frank Holten SP, and other assigned locations.
Maintains records related to revenue obtained from sales of licenses
Compiles data for the Regional Land Manager in preparation for the annual budget; project commodities and contractional needs
Serves as office receptionist”
You can apply for the office coordinator position online.
Employment and training program manager
Agency: Department of Human Services
Wage: $102,000 to $120,000 per year
Location: Chicago
Application deadline: Friday, Jan. 17
Minimum qualifications for this position include “knowledge, skill, and mental development” equivalent to completion of four years of college with course work in business or public administration and three years of progressively responsible administrative experience in a public or private workforce development and/or employment and training organization, the listing says.
Several preferred qualifications also apply, including three years of professional experience of employment and training state and federal requirements, service delivery objectives and goals, activities, and operational systems for a public or private organization, three years of professional program management experience developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs, policies, and procedures for a public or private business organization and more.
Job responsibilities include, according to the listing:
Serves as an employment and training program manager.
Plans, develops, manages and coordinates with program and fiscal units to manage programmatic review and monitoring processes and visits with department and/or relevant agencies.
As a subject matter expert, develops training and technical assistance programs and complex management report tools.
Serves as full-line supervisor.
Represents the department at meetings and/or training sessions pertaining to the employment and training programs; prepares clear and concise briefings and recommendations for submission to the bureau chief and associate director.
Works closely with DFCS staff to improve employment and training services to customers; identifies solutions to issues; and coordinates the implementation of contractual agreements and expansion of service providers in Region 1 & 2 pertaining to employment and training programs.
You can apply for the employment and training program manager position online.
Regional contract support staff
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Wage: $4,246 anticipated starting monthly salary, full range is $4,246 to $5,701 per month
Location: East St. Louis
Application deadline: Wednesday, Jan. 22
Minimum qualifications for this position include “knowledge, skill, and mental development” equivalent to the completion of high school and two years of experience in a community “serviced by a demonstration project or a similar community experience.”
The listing also includes several preferred qualifications, including working knowledge of community organizations, ability to participate in planning and program design and more.
Job responsibilities include, the listing says:
“Serves as Contract Support Staff
Audits, reviews, monitors, and completes monitoring and service level data reports regarding day care clients and providers and associated billing
Serves as a resource for Department and private agency staff, day care providers, clients, and foster parents regarding day care policies, procedures, and payment regulations
Maintains complex information systems of monitoring and service delivery data and develops various reports as assigned, performing all related functions in a timely manner”
You can apply for the regional contract support staff position online.
Registered nurse I
Agency: Department of Human Services
Wage: $73,668 to $101,412 per year
Location: Alton
Application deadline: Wednesday, March 19
Minimum qualifications include graduation from an approved nursing education program resulting in 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.
Job responsibilities include, the listing says:
“Utilizing the nursing process, provides professional nursing care to mentally ill patients on a living unit.
Provides guidance to lower level staff for adherence to treatment plans and compliance with applicable operational policies and procedures, current professional standards of psychiatric mental health patient care.
Performs a variety of nursing care functions including preparing and administering medication, laboratory specimens, preparing patients for specialized diagnostic testing, providing Basic Life Support (BLS).
Consults with physicians and other professional staff regarding patient treatment and care.
Monitors the use of appropriate techniques to ensure a safe, secure therapeutic and sanitary environment of care and general performance of duties.
Completes mandatory nursing training requirements and continuing education workshops and seminars to maintain professional competency.”
You can apply for the registered nurse I position online.
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