verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

High School Teacher Salary in Illinois

Median Annual in Illinois
$79,990/yr
Median Hourly Wage
/hr
▲ 11% above U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Illinois

groups Employed in IL
44,670
public U.S. Median
$72,040
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$80,024 #9 of 51

High School Teacher pay in Illinois, explained

High school teachers in Illinois earn a median of $79,990 per year (— per hour), which is 11% above the national median of $72,040. Entry-level workers earn around $49,020, while the most experienced high school teachers reach about $135,960. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Illinois.

Is $79,990 good pay in Illinois?

Adjusted for Illinois's cost of living (which runs 100% of the U.S. average), that $79,990 is worth about $80,024 in national buying power — ranking Illinois #9 for real pay (vs #9 on the sticker number).

See the full High School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

High School Teacher pay by experience in Illinois

Entry level (10th pct)
$49,020
$23.57/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$79,990
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$135,960
$65.37/hr

High School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs IL
Illinois (here) $79,990 $80,024
Wisconsin $62,870 $66,815 +$17,120
Indiana $61,880 $66,303 +$18,110
Kentucky $61,560 $68,279 +$18,430
Iowa $61,200 $69,734 +$18,790
Missouri $59,240 $65,230 +$20,750

High School Teacher in Illinois: FAQ

How much do high school teachers make in Illinois?

High school teachers in Illinois earn a median of $79,990 per year (— per hour), compared with $72,040 nationally.

Does Illinois pay high school teachers well?

At $79,990, Illinois pays 11% above the national median for high school teachers. An estimated 44,670 work in the state.

High School Teacher salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

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