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Elementary teacher salary in Illinois
- $47,040lowest 10% earn less
- $58,43025th percentile
- $75,320median
- $97,83075th percentile
- $105,250top 10% earn more
The median pay for elementary teachers in Illinois was $75,320 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $11,350 higher than the US median[6].
How much do elementary teachers make in Illinois?
Half of the elementary teachers in Illinois earned more than $75,320 a year, and half earned less[1]. The average was $74,630[7]. BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, not hourly pay[8]. About 61,520 people worked as elementary teachers in the state in wage and salary jobs[4].
Across the US, the median was $63,970, so Illinois sits $11,350 (17.7%) above it[3][6]. Illinois had the 16th highest median for elementary teachers out of the 50 states and DC[5]. Compared with all jobs in Illinois, the median for elementary teachers was $23,360 higher than the $51,960 all-jobs median[9][10].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $47,040, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $105,250[2]. Of the 12 metro areas with a published median, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest at $78,390[11]. Rockford had a median of $64,200 and Peoria had $57,440[12]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed and owners of unincorporated firms, and it does not include nonproduction bonuses or the cost of benefits[13].
Illinois vs US pay
Pay for elementary teachers in Illinois next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in Illinois
Metro areas in Illinois with the most jobs for elementary teachers, and the median pay in each[12]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN[12] | $78,390 | 45,840 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $60,650 | 13,440 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $61,650 | 1,760 |
| Rockford, IL | $64,200 | 1,530 |
| Peoria, IL | $57,440 | 1,500 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $47,100 | 1,030 |
| Springfield, IL | $62,340 | 1,000 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $59,650 | 990 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for elementary teachers in the states that border Illinois, highest first[15].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin[15] | $61,210 | 24,920 |
| Kentucky | $60,610 | 19,080 |
| Iowa | $60,580 | 17,300 |
| Indiana | $59,700 | 27,720 |
| Missouri | $50,910 | 33,180 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for elementary teachers are projected to decline 0.4% from 2025 to 2035[16]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: bachelor's degree[17].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an elementary teacher make in Illinois?
- The median was $75,320 a year in May 2025, and the average was $74,630[1][7].
- How much does an elementary teacher make an hour in Illinois?
- BLS publishes only yearly pay for elementary teachers, not hourly pay[8]. The median yearly figure was $75,320[1].
- Which city in Illinois pays elementary teachers the most?
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest median among the 12 metro areas with a published figure, at $78,390 a year[11].
- Is Illinois a good state for elementary teachers?
- Illinois ranked 16th of the 50 states and DC for the median annual wage for elementary teachers[5]. The median was $11,350 above the US median[6].
- What do you need to become an elementary teacher in Illinois?
- This is a US figure and not specific to Illinois. Across the US, the typical entry path is a bachelor's degree, with no related work experience and no typical on-the-job training[17].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois was $75,320 per year. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois: 10th percentile $47,040, 25th percentile $58,430, 75th percentile $97,830, 90th percentile $105,250. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US as a whole was $63,970 per year, with about 1,388,390 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 61,520 people worked as Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: Illinois had the 16th highest median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois ($75,320) was $11,350 (17.7%) higher than the US median ($63,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois was $74,630 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Illinois was $51,960. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in Illinois was $23,360 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($51,960). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 12 metro areas in or partly in Illinois with a published median for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN had the highest median annual wage, $78,390. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the US: 10th percentile $47,960, 25th percentile $57,710, 75th percentile $81,450, 90th percentile $104,340. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in states that border Illinois (highest first): Wisconsin $61,210; Kentucky $60,610; Iowa $60,580; Indiana $59,700; Missouri $50,910. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education is projected to decline 0.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 87,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections