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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pope Co CUD 1 | $63,236 | 478 | $15,063 |
| Blue Ridge CUSD 18 | $63,235 | 653 | $20,069 |
| Wayne City CUSD 100 | $63,212 | 499 | $13,285 |
| Shelbyville CUSD 4 | $63,183 | 1,241 | $13,143 |
| Warren CUSD 205 | $63,171 | 372 | $19,914 |
| Peotone CUSD 207U | $63,037 | 1,307 | $18,251 |
| Southwestern CUSD 9 | $62,990 | 1,235 | $15,185 |
| North Mac CUSD 34 | $62,979 | 1,186 | $17,853 |
| AlWood CUSD 225 | $62,597 | 365 | $19,997 |
| Somonauk CUSD 432 | $62,587 | 751 | $17,402 |
| CCSD 168 | $62,533 | 1,290 | $24,567 |
| Prairie Grove CSD 46 | $62,493 | 773 | $23,118 |
| Knoxville CUSD 202 | $62,395 | 987 | $15,778 |
| Scales Mound CUSD 211 | $62,381 | 269 | $30,595 |
| Germantown Hills SD 69 | $62,325 | 828 | $12,284 |
| Carlinville CUSD 1 | $62,322 | 1,330 | $15,054 |
| Deer Creek-Mackinaw CUSD 701 | $62,286 | 977 | $14,260 |
| Tri Point CUSD 6-J | $62,238 | 380 | $26,542 |
| New Berlin CUSD 16 | $62,169 | 859 | $17,300 |
| Steger SD 194 | $62,167 | 1,452 | $16,684 |
| New Athens CUSD 60 | $62,111 | 500 | $13,792 |
| Riverdale CUSD 100 | $62,078 | 1,094 | $13,755 |
| Columbia CUSD 4 | $61,790 | 1,973 | $12,969 |
| Farmington Central CUSD 265 | $61,750 | 1,251 | $14,388 |
| Waltham CCSD 185 | $61,722 | 211 | $21,261 |
| Morrisonville CUSD 1 | $61,704 | 283 | $17,219 |
| Germantown SD 60 | $61,690 | 238 | $12,689 |
| Dakota CUSD 201 | $61,625 | 776 | $16,081 |
| Gallatin CUSD 7 | $61,603 | 725 | $15,134 |
| Southeastern CUSD 337 | $61,588 | 470 | $17,064 |
| Rome CCSD 2 | $61,560 | 361 | $13,416 |
| Fox Lake GSD 114 | $61,527 | 679 | $29,171 |
| Johnston City CUSD 1 | $61,515 | 1,053 | $16,028 |
| Riverview CCSD 2 | $61,500 | 234 | $15,979 |
| Hamilton Co CUSD 10 | $61,492 | 1,139 | $14,214 |
| Midland CUSD 7 | $61,395 | 689 | $14,501 |
| Sparta CUSD 140 | $61,333 | 1,192 | $17,274 |
| Century CUSD 100 | $61,333 | 353 | $19,399 |
| Earlville CUSD 9 | $61,295 | 378 | $23,669 |
| North Greene CUSD 3 | $61,247 | 843 | $16,533 |
| Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276 | $61,242 | 895 | $18,392 |
| Herscher CUSD 2 | $61,134 | 1,703 | $15,739 |
| Dieterich CUSD 30 | $61,108 | 575 | $11,677 |
| Oakland CUSD 5 | $61,095 | 261 | $17,586 |
| East Coloma - Nelson CESD 20 | $61,087 | 234 | $20,850 |
| Red Bud CUSD 132 | $60,993 | 1,065 | $13,755 |
| Illini West H S Dist 307 | $60,902 | 341 | $16,551 |
| Shiloh CUSD 1 | $60,862 | 361 | $20,551 |
| Staunton CUSD 6 | $60,823 | 1,249 | $11,958 |
| Princeton ESD 115 | $60,771 | 1,068 | $16,649 |
| West Washington Co CUD 10 | $60,767 | 524 | $14,479 |
| Mount Olive CUSD 5 | $60,753 | 474 | $17,489 |
| Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley CUSD 5 | $60,732 | 963 | $23,353 |
| Lewistown CUSD 97 | $60,688 | 595 | $16,872 |
| Edwards County CUSD 1 | $60,644 | 808 | $17,239 |
| Havana CUSD 126 | $60,641 | 866 | $16,397 |
| Lowpoint-Washburn CUSD 21 | $60,222 | 319 | $18,777 |
| Mendota CCSD 289 | $60,198 | 1,028 | $16,501 |
| Wood River-Hartford ESD 15 | $60,161 | 603 | $18,163 |
| Dupo CUSD 196 | $60,118 | 956 | $18,018 |
| St Elmo CUSD 202 | $60,112 | 415 | $16,205 |
| Chester-East Lincoln CCSD 61 | $60,105 | 285 | $12,677 |
| Winchester CUSD 1 | $60,088 | 586 | $14,473 |
| Porta CUSD 202 | $60,036 | 1,060 | $17,108 |
| Keeneyville SD 20 | $60,033 | 1,336 | $19,138 |
| Nauvoo-Colusa CUSD 325 | $59,936 | 203 | $26,300 |
| Marissa CUSD 40 | $59,927 | 512 | $19,164 |
| East Alton SD 13 | $59,891 | 748 | $17,325 |
| Sandridge SD 172 | $59,873 | 370 | $15,716 |
| Rochelle CCSD 231 | $59,852 | 1,529 | $13,994 |
| Jacksonville SD 117 | $59,790 | 3,275 | $17,530 |
| Harrison SD 36 | $59,713 | 368 | $21,905 |
| Bluford Unit School District 318 | $59,704 | 357 | $18,129 |
| New Simpson Hill SD 32 | $59,667 | 209 | $17,876 |
| Auburn CUSD 10 | $59,648 | 1,175 | $14,451 |
| Berkeley SD 87 | $59,562 | 2,429 | $40,489 |
| Argenta-Oreana CUSD 1 | $59,542 | 969 | $19,459 |
| Heritage CUSD 8 | $59,505 | 388 | $20,278 |
| Central SD 51 | $59,466 | 1,361 | $11,979 |
| Washington SD 52 | $59,465 | 870 | $12,418 |
| Unity Point CCSD 140 | $59,456 | 606 | $16,262 |
| Indian Creek CUSD 425 | $59,437 | 736 | $17,371 |
| Milford Area Public Schools District 124 | $59,417 | 526 | $21,401 |
| County of Union Sch Dist No43 | $59,286 | 343 | $17,160 |
| West Carroll CUSD 314 | $59,249 | 920 | $17,723 |
| Midlothian SD 143 | $59,174 | 1,617 | $18,845 |
| Carbon Cliff-Barstow SD 36 | $59,148 | 286 | $15,633 |
| Delavan CUSD 703 | $59,120 | 440 | $17,343 |
| Creve Coeur SD 76 | $59,069 | 488 | $16,227 |
| Pana CUSD 8 | $59,019 | 1,197 | $15,804 |
| Forrestville Valley CUSD 221 | $58,999 | 745 | $16,991 |
| Marseilles ESD 150 | $58,975 | 527 | $16,433 |
| Maroa Forsyth CUSD 2 | $58,880 | 1,186 | $25,460 |
| Norwood ESD 63 | $58,867 | 402 | $15,694 |
| Pikeland CUSD 10 | $58,762 | 1,183 | $13,937 |
| Mazon-Verona-Kinsman ESD 2C | $58,754 | 309 | $16,715 |
| Amboy CUSD 272 | $58,750 | 752 | $25,314 |
| Monticello CUSD 25 | $58,732 | 1,611 | $16,001 |
| Signal Hill SD 181 | $58,667 | 317 | $20,233 |
| Woodland CUSD 5 | $58,545 | 453 | $25,062 |
Showing 501–600 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 |