SOC 25-2059 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, All Other — Illinois
Illinois · 4 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in Illinois is $64,850 per year, 15.3% below the national median of $76,580.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in Illinois is $64,850 per year, 15.3% below the national median of $76,580. Pay ranges from under $47,660 at the tenth percentile to more than $100,320 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $51,420 to $79,110.
Employment stands at 2,560, or 0.4 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 42 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 25th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $74,180. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 343rd of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,660 | −37.8% |
| 25th | $51,420 | −32.9% |
| Median (50th) | $64,850 | −15.3% |
| 75th | $79,110 | +3.3% |
| 90th | $100,320 | +31.0% |
| Mean | $69,780 | −8.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $74,180 | 1,550 | |
| 2 | Champaign | $61,110 | 40 | |
| 3 | Springfield | $59,450 | 90 | |
| 4 | Peoria | $51,410 | 140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $64,850 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$64,850as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$64,850US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,850 a year, 15.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,660 to $100,320 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 2,560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 25th of 42 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $74,180.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, All Other in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $64,850, 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 $76,580, so pay in Illinois is 15.3% lower. 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 $100,320 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,660 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 $74,180 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 2,560 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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