Tax Associate Jobs in Illinois

Tax Associate jobs in Illinois are in strong demand, concentrated in public accounting, corporate tax, and financial services, with openings at every level from entry-level staff to senior associate. Chicago drives the bulk of hiring, with additional activity in Naperville and Schaumburg, where firms like Deloitte, Grant Thornton, and RSM U.S. maintain major Illinois offices. The most consistently sought specialties are federal and state income tax compliance, tax provision work under ASC 740, and multistate tax planning. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

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Overview

Open roles206+
Top employerH&R Block
Top cityChicago, IL
Cities hiring187
Work type71% On-site
Top industryAccounting

Showing 5 of 206+ Tax Associate jobs

Purple Cow Recruiting
Real Estate Tax Associate | $121K-$130K
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Purple Cow Recruiting
Added 4d ago
Real Estate Tax Associate | $121K-$130K
Purple Cow Recruiting
Homewood, Illinois
Business Development
Property Management
Real Estate Sales
$121k - $130k/yr

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L
Senior Associate – Business Tax Services
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L
Added 5d ago
Senior Associate – Business Tax Services
LiveWell Homecare Agency
Chicago, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
Bachelor's degree

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L
Senior Associate, International Tax
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L
Added 5d ago
Senior Associate, International Tax
LiveWell Homecare Agency
Chicago, Illinois
Logistics & Fleet Management
Procurement & Supply Chain
Supply Chain
Master's degree in law

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Seternity Solutions
Real Estate Tax Associate
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Seternity Solutions
Added 1w ago
Real Estate Tax Associate
Seternity Solutions
Homewood, Illinois
Business Development
Property Management
Real Estate Sales
$120k - $130k/yr
11-50

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Lin & Lincoln CPA
Tax Associate
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Lin & Lincoln CPA
Added 1w ago
Tax Associate
Lin & Lincoln CPA
Morton Grove, Illinois
Account Management
Customer Service
Sales
$50k - $70k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's degree

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See All 206+ Tax Associate Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Tax Associate Jobs by City in Illinois

Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Homewood
3 jobs
Evanston
2 jobs
Glenview
2 jobs
Oak Park
2 jobs
Palatine
2 jobs
Wilmette
2 jobs
Bloomington
2 jobs
Downers Grove
2 jobs

Tax Associate Job Market in Illinois

A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • H&R Block
    H&R Block181
  • Intuit
    Intuit8
  • RSM
    RSM2
  • CliftonLarsonAllen
    CliftonLarsonAllen2
  • L
    LiveWell Homecare Agency2

Top Industries Hiring

  • Accounting & Auditing

What Illinois Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in tax associate jobs across Illinois.

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required
  • CPA license or active CPA exam candidacy in Illinois preferred or required
  • One to three years of tax compliance or provision experience for associate roles
  • Proficiency in tax software such as CCH Axcess, GoSystem, or Thomson Reuters ONESOURCE
  • Strong knowledge of federal and Illinois state income tax regulations and filings
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills for client and team interaction

Tax Associate Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a tax associate in Illinois?

Most employers require a bachelor's degree in accounting or a closely related field, and many prefer candidates who are pursuing or have earned a CPA license. In Illinois, CPA licensure is issued through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which requires passing all four sections of the Uniform CPA Exam along with meeting the state's education and experience hours. Candidates without a CPA often enter through staff or junior tax roles and sit for the exam while working.

How much do tax associates make in Illinois?

Tax associates in Illinois earn a median of about $54,480 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $33,030 for the lowest 10% to over $76,150 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire tax associates in Illinois?

Employers hiring tax associates in Illinois right now include H&R Block, Intuit, and RSM, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of Big Four and regional accounting firms alongside large corporate headquarters in the Chicago area means consistent demand across both public accounting and in-house tax departments.

Which Illinois cities have the most tax associate jobs?

Chicago, Homewood, and Evanston have the most tax associate openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it is home to Big Four offices, major regional firms, and the headquarters of large corporations that maintain in-house tax teams, while suburban hubs like Naperville and Schaumburg attract roles tied to mid-market companies and financial services firms based along the I-88 corridor.

Are there remote tax associate jobs in Illinois?

Yes, and more than most fields, since tax compliance and advisory work is largely desk-based and document-driven. About 29% of tax associate openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how readily firms have adapted since the shift to distributed work. Federal and state income tax compliance roles and tax provision work tend to be the most amenable to fully remote arrangements.

How can I get hired as a tax associate in Illinois with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is landing a staff tax or tax intern role at a Chicago-area public accounting firm, where structured new-associate programs at firms like BDO, RSM U.S., and Grant Thornton bring in recent graduates and train them on compliance fundamentals. Candidates who have passed at least one section of the CPA exam stand out, as do those with internship experience in accounting. Adjacent starting points include accounts payable, bookkeeping, or general accounting roles at Illinois companies, which provide the financial foundation firms look for when promoting into tax.

Where can I find and apply to tax associate jobs in Illinois?

You can find and apply to tax associate jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across public accounting firms, corporate tax departments, and financial services employers. Find roles that fit your experience and location and apply directly.

See All 206+ Tax Associate Jobs in Illinois

Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Tax Associate Jobs