State profile · NCES F-33 FY2022
Teacher Salary in Illinois
According to the NCES Common Core of Data finance survey, estimated teacher pay and per-pupil spending are available across 848 public school districts in Illinois.
- $86,298
- Est. state avg salary
- +0.6%
- vs national
- #17
- National rank
- 848
- Districts
Illinois's estimated average teacher salary is $86,298, near the national average of $85,759, ranking #17 of 51 states and territories, across 848 public school districts (NCES CCD F-33, FY2022).
- upper third nationally (#17 of 51)
- $131,650 spread between its highest- and lowest-paying districts
- +0.6% vs the national average
- +12.6% since FY2019
- #22 of 51 purchasing-power-adjusted (BEA RPP 101.2)
What does the NCES F-33 data show for Illinois?
Illinois reports 848 public school districts in the NCES Common Core of Data FY2022 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, with an average teacher salary of $86,298. That places the state in the upper third of US teacher-pay rankings - #17 of 51, near the national average of $85,759 (+0.6%). The state's public schools serve 1,860,095 students across these districts. Most district figures divide total instructional spending by the district's REPORTED teacher headcount (NCES CCD Staff Universe Survey); a small number of large consolidated districts that report staffing only at a sub-district level fall back to an estimated ratio instead, since total instructional spending also includes aides and assistants, both figures run somewhat above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, treat this as a relative cross-district comparison, not an exact paycheck, and see our methodology for the formula, its data source per district, and its limits.
Among enrolling districts, pay varies widely: Twp HSD 113 reports the highest estimated average salary at $162,736, while Clay City CUSD 10 sits at the lower end at $31,086 - a spread of $131,650 between top and bottom reporting districts. Licensing rules, state aid formulas, collective bargaining density, and local tax bases all drive this intra-state variation. Urban and suburban districts with larger tax bases typically lead, while rural districts often lag despite lower cost of living.
Teacher compensation here reflects both state policy choices, the statutory minimum salary schedule, pension funding levels, licensure reciprocity, and the funding formula that determines how much state aid each district receives per pupil. A #17 national rank signals where Illinois sits in the competition for teachers against neighboring states; teacher shortage areas typically correlate with lower pay rank. Figures below are per-district averages derived from the F-33 instructional salary expenditure field (Z33) divided by each district's reported teacher FTE (or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure), a district-level aggregate, not individual salary records.
Purchasing-power-adjusted rank
Illinois's nominal average teacher salary ranks #17 of 51 states and territories. Adjusted by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's 2022 Regional Price Parity (101.2, US = 100, a relative state-level price-level index, not a district or metro cost-of-living figure), the estimate becomes $85,270, ranking #22 of 51 , 5 places lower than the nominal rank once relative price levels are factored in. This purchasing-power view is not published by NEA's teacher-pay rankings or the aggregator sites; it comes from combining our own F-33-derived salary estimate with BEA's public RPP series. See the full 51-state release for methodology and download.
Illinois's estimated average teacher salary, FY2019-FY2022
Highest-paying districts in Illinois
Estimated average teacher salary, enrolling districts (200+ students)
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$162,736 Est. avg salary
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$160,543 Est. avg salary
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$159,431 Est. avg salary
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$158,068 Est. avg salary
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$153,064 Est. avg salary
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$150,061 Est. avg salary
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$149,185 Est. avg salary
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$149,184 Est. avg salary
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$146,319 Est. avg salary
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$142,569 Est. avg salary
What this shows Twp HSD 113 leads Illinois on the F-33 instructional-salary estimate. Service entities (CTCs, county offices) are excluded, their enrollment-based ratios are not reliable salary figures.
Top 3 districts
Districts by Estimated Teacher Salary
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment | Per-Pupil Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Island SD 41 | $81,922 | 6,194 | $21,876 |
| Rockdale SD 84 | $81,857 | 223 | $23,081 |
| Danville CCSD 118 | $81,818 | 4,794 | $21,849 |
| Orland SD 135 | $81,793 | 5,210 | $17,977 |
| O Fallon Twp HSD 203 | $81,726 | 2,533 | $16,038 |
| Kirby SD 140 | $81,486 | 3,537 | $19,647 |
| Richland GSD 88A | $81,139 | 839 | $18,242 |
| Central Stickney SD 110 | $81,100 | 313 | $27,361 |
| Bloomington SD 87 | $81,046 | 5,066 | $16,973 |
| Peoria SD 150 | $81,011 | 12,770 | $19,209 |
| Arlington Heights SD 25 | $81,003 | 5,345 | $19,300 |
| Coal City CUSD 1 | $81,002 | 2,064 | $16,144 |
| Nippersink SD 2 | $80,963 | 1,111 | $18,851 |
| Urbana SD 116 | $80,756 | 4,283 | $22,601 |
| CCSD 89 | $80,604 | 2,254 | $19,260 |
| Flossmoor SD 161 | $80,511 | 2,311 | $15,440 |
| Woodstock CUSD 200 | $80,501 | 6,140 | $18,672 |
| DeKalb CUSD 428 | $80,387 | 6,851 | $19,973 |
| South Holland SD 150 | $80,211 | 844 | $22,126 |
| Huntley Community School District 158 | $80,203 | 8,645 | $17,184 |
| Jersey CUSD 100 | $80,061 | 2,450 | $15,997 |
| Tremont CUSD 702 | $80,059 | 925 | $14,280 |
| Salem CHSD 600 | $79,963 | 701 | $22,223 |
| Paris-Union SD 95 | $79,868 | 1,225 | $22,745 |
| Harrisburg CUSD 3 | $79,856 | 1,791 | $20,358 |
| East Maine SD 63 | $79,773 | 3,478 | $21,180 |
| Ottawa Twp HSD 140 | $79,725 | 1,299 | $19,530 |
| Alsip-Hazlgrn-Oaklwn SD 126 | $79,713 | 1,520 | $16,121 |
| Frankfort CCSD 157C | $79,500 | 2,608 | $18,587 |
| Bloomingdale SD 13 | $79,116 | 1,374 | $16,854 |
| Sandwich CUSD 430 | $78,883 | 1,856 | $15,364 |
| Seneca CCSD 170 | $78,839 | 469 | $24,945 |
| Carbondale ESD 95 | $78,796 | 1,553 | $24,443 |
| Gen George Patton SD 133 | $78,533 | 216 | $28,245 |
| South Holland SD 151 | $78,428 | 1,547 | $21,798 |
| Harlem UD 122 | $78,421 | 6,286 | $20,135 |
| Limestone CHSD 310 | $78,404 | 949 | $22,468 |
| La Salle-Peru Twp HSD 120 | $78,378 | 1,231 | $20,889 |
| Grayslake CCSD 46 | $78,358 | 3,640 | $18,896 |
| Pekin CSD 303 | $78,313 | 1,847 | $19,412 |
| Millstadt CCSD 160 | $78,286 | 729 | $16,509 |
| Freeburg CCSD 70 | $78,263 | 778 | $14,326 |
| Morris CHSD 101 | $78,259 | 919 | $17,101 |
| Mount Prospect SD 57 | $78,092 | 2,267 | $17,427 |
| Country Club Hills SD 160 | $78,072 | 1,278 | $16,027 |
| Lemont-Bromberek CSD 113A | $78,050 | 2,418 | $19,777 |
| Darien SD 61 | $77,982 | 1,269 | $22,184 |
| Kankakee SD 111 | $77,967 | 4,964 | $20,159 |
| Cass SD 63 | $77,935 | 802 | $17,349 |
| Hoover-Schrum Memorial SD 157 | $77,790 | 854 | $19,585 |
| Berwyn South SD 100 | $77,785 | 3,125 | $20,590 |
| Byron CUSD 226 | $77,748 | 1,486 | $22,004 |
| Summit Hill SD 161 | $77,731 | 2,573 | $19,712 |
| Anna Jonesboro CHSD 81 | $77,697 | 522 | $19,830 |
| Waterloo CUSD 5 | $77,608 | 2,742 | $14,170 |
| Rochelle Twp HSD 212 | $77,567 | 919 | $18,732 |
| Hoopeston Area CUSD 11 | $77,518 | 1,113 | $18,945 |
| Sycamore CUSD 427 | $77,471 | 3,599 | $21,442 |
| Alton CUSD 11 | $77,278 | 5,920 | $17,463 |
| Maywood-Melrose Park-Broadview 89 | $77,206 | 4,274 | $21,298 |
| Oak Lawn-Hometown SD 123 | $77,177 | 3,325 | $17,645 |
| Homewood SD 153 | $77,129 | 1,913 | $18,329 |
| Kaneland CUSD 302 | $77,112 | 4,114 | $20,437 |
| Iuka CCSD 7 | $77,088 | 209 | $16,254 |
| Salt Creek SD 48 | $77,060 | 511 | $26,798 |
| Beecher CUSD 200U | $76,937 | 1,054 | $18,648 |
| Champaign CUSD 4 | $76,933 | 10,133 | $24,915 |
| Evergreen Park ESD 124 | $76,924 | 1,848 | $19,858 |
| Belvidere CUSD 100 | $76,763 | 7,516 | $18,415 |
| Centralia HSD 200 | $76,746 | 864 | $21,955 |
| Johnsburg CUSD 12 | $76,646 | 1,690 | $22,054 |
| Benton CCSD 47 | $76,493 | 1,091 | $13,847 |
| Mokena SD 159 | $76,481 | 1,558 | $15,942 |
| Litchfield CUSD 12 | $75,990 | 1,286 | $21,188 |
| Hillside SD 93 | $75,976 | 426 | $29,620 |
| Yorkville CUSD 115 | $75,946 | 6,705 | $15,632 |
| Pontiac CCSD 429 | $75,897 | 1,136 | $19,885 |
| Mattoon CUSD 2 | $75,696 | 3,121 | $20,897 |
| Pleasant Plains CUSD 8 | $75,651 | 1,260 | $17,126 |
| Rockton SD 140 | $75,557 | 1,541 | $13,964 |
| Komarek SD 94 | $75,465 | 505 | $52,374 |
| Calumet Public SD 132 | $75,456 | 996 | $19,458 |
| Galena USD 120 | $75,165 | 867 | $19,393 |
| Rhodes SD 84-5 | $75,156 | 538 | $27,812 |
| Homer CCSD 33C | $75,155 | 3,684 | $18,690 |
| Worth SD 127 | $75,121 | 1,049 | $26,878 |
| Chicago Ridge SD 127-5 | $75,105 | 1,418 | $18,630 |
| Fairfield Comm H S Dist 225 | $75,057 | 435 | $16,409 |
| Dolton SD 148 | $75,014 | 1,980 | $23,232 |
| Vienna HSD 133 | $74,959 | 319 | $23,028 |
| Wesclin CUSD 3 | $74,903 | 1,332 | $13,724 |
| Wallace CCSD 195 | $74,897 | 412 | $15,718 |
| Rossville-Alvin CUSD 7 | $74,824 | 367 | $16,856 |
| Fremont SD 79 | $74,769 | 2,117 | $14,288 |
| Raccoon Cons SD 1 | $74,750 | 219 | $12,740 |
| Dixon USD 170 | $74,686 | 2,592 | $15,633 |
| Indian Springs SD 109 | $74,500 | 2,448 | $21,648 |
| Kinnikinnick CCSD 131 | $74,455 | 1,728 | $15,403 |
| Hall HSD 502 | $74,454 | 387 | $23,178 |
| Lansing SD 158 | $74,425 | 2,630 | $17,137 |
Showing 201–300 of 757 enrolling districts. Specialized non-enrolling agencies (career/technical centers, county offices, service co-ops) are excluded from the salary ranking, their enrollment-based estimates are not reliable.
Lowest-Paying Districts in Illinois
| District | Est. Avg Salary | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|
| Clay City CUSD 10 | $31,086 | 275 |
| Spoon River Valley CUSD 4 | $34,667 | 255 |
| Stewardson-Strasburg CUD 5A | $37,170 | 408 |
| Northwestern CUSD 2 | $39,784 | 331 |
| Cissna Park CUSD 6 | $39,993 | 261 |
| Williamsfield CUSD 210 | $40,131 | 287 |
| Brownstown CUSD 201 | $41,024 | 405 |
| Donovan CUSD 3 | $41,153 | 274 |
| CUSD 4 | $41,241 | 667 |
| Pearl City CUSD 200 | $42,255 | 425 |
Among enrolling districts (200+ students) with a reliable estimate; service entities excluded, see methodology.
Compare Nearby-Ranked States
Data: NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey + Staff Universe Survey, FY2022. Salary figures divide instructional expenditure (variable Z33) by each district's reported teacher FTE, or an estimated FTE for the small minority with no reported figure. Not individual salary data. Read our methodology.
Illinois teacher salary FAQ
What is the average teacher salary in Illinois?
Across Illinois's 848 public school districts, the average teacher salary is $86,298 (NCES CCD F-33 finance data divided by CCD Staff Universe Survey teacher headcounts, FY2022). This figure is derived from total instructional spending and runs above survey-reported classroom-teacher-only salaries, read it as a relative comparison.
Which Illinois school district pays teachers the most?
Twp HSD 113 reports the highest average teacher salary in Illinois at $162,736, while Clay City CUSD 10 sits at the lower end at $31,086.
How does Illinois teacher pay compare to the national average?
Illinois's average of $86,298 is near the national average of $85,759 (+0.6%), ranking #17 of 51 US states and territories.
How many school districts are in Illinois?
Illinois has 848 public school districts in the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey, together serving 1,860,095 students.
Can teachers earn $100,000 in Illinois?
67 of 757 Illinois districts with reliable data report an estimated average teacher salary of $100,000 or more, led by Twp HSD 113 at $162,736. This is a district-wide average, not an individual salary, step, or years-of-experience figure.
How does Illinois rank after adjusting for cost of living?
Adjusted by the BEA's 2022 Regional Price Parity (101.2, US=100), Illinois's purchasing-power-adjusted estimated teacher salary is $85,270, ranking #22 of 51 states and territories, lower than its #17 nominal-salary rank. This is a relative state-level price-level comparison, not take-home pay, taxes, or district/metro cost of living.
Related
According to the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) F-33 Local Education Agency Finance Survey, PlainTeacher's figures are computed directly, no number is typed in by an editor. Illinois's district figures are aggregated directly from each district's FY2022 F-33 submission, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error on this page. Data current as of FY2022.
| Publisher | PlainTeacher |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |