SOC 25-1124 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
At $80,940, median pay for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $79,350 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $80,940, median pay for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Chicago, IL tracks the national median of $79,350 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $64,780 and $99,620. The lowest tenth earn under $48,920, while the highest tenth earn more than $127,070.
The area has 490 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.85 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 230th of 716 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,920 | −38.3% |
| 25th | $64,780 | −18.4% |
| Median (50th) | $80,940 | +2.0% |
| 75th | $99,620 | +25.5% |
| 90th | $127,070 | +60.1% |
| Mean | $85,640 | +7.9% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $80,940 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$80,940as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$80,940US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,940 a year, 2.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,920 to $127,070 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 490 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $80,940, 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 $79,350, so pay in Chicago, IL is 2.0% 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 Chicago, IL earns more than $127,070 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,920 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 490 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. 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.
Explore related data