SOC 25-1065 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
At $100,700, median pay for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois tracks the national median of $98,070 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $100,700, median pay for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois tracks the national median of $98,070 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $76,770 and $123,980. The lowest tenth earn under $60,220, while the highest tenth earn more than $135,810.
The area has 460 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.69 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 45 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 13th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $100,700. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 127th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,220 | −38.6% |
| 25th | $76,770 | −21.7% |
| Median (50th) | $100,700 | +2.7% |
| 75th | $123,980 | +26.4% |
| 90th | $135,810 | +38.5% |
| Mean | $99,490 | +1.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $100,700 | 320 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $100,700 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$100,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$100,700US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $100,700 a year, 2.7% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,220 to $135,810 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 460 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 13th of 45 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $100,700.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $100,700, 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 $98,070, so pay in Illinois is 2.7% 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 $135,810 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,220 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 $100,700 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 460 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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