SOC 25-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — Illinois
Illinois · 8 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois comes to $75,320 a year, ahead of the national median of $63,970 by 17.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois comes to $75,320 a year, ahead of the national median of $63,970 by 17.7%. Pay ranges from under $47,040 at the tenth percentile to more than $105,250 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,430 to $97,830.
Employment stands at 61,520, or 10.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Illinois ranks number 16th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Chicago records the highest median at $78,390. Of the 747 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 281st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,040 | −26.5% |
| 25th | $58,430 | −8.7% |
| Median (50th) | $75,320 | +17.7% |
| 75th | $97,830 | +52.9% |
| 90th | $105,250 | +64.5% |
| Mean | $74,630 | +16.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $78,390 | 45,840 | |
| 2 | Bloomington | $65,590 | 670 | |
| 3 | Rockford | $64,200 | 1,530 | |
| 4 | Springfield | $62,340 | 1,000 | |
| 5 | Champaign | $59,650 | 990 | |
| 6 | Decatur | $59,050 | 370 | |
| 7 | Kankakee | $57,980 | 360 | |
| 8 | Peoria | $57,440 | 1,500 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $75,320 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$75,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$75,320US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $75,320 a year, 17.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,040 to $105,250 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 61,520 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 16th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $78,390.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $75,320, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $63,970, so pay in Illinois is 17.7% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Illinois earns more than $105,250 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Chicago, at $78,390 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 61,520 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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