Salary distribution
Where Illinois elementary school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $51,160 and $81,720, with a median of $64,160.
Elementary School Teachers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 65 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $54,160. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 13 | $50,880 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $68,919 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $85,130 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Elementary School Teachers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 | Teacher | 16 | $52,487 |
| Chicago Public Schools | Teacher (Bilingual) | 11 | $68,566 |
| LYCEE FRANCAIS DE CHICAGO | PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER | 5 | $68,919 |
| Belvidere Community Unit School District 100 | Dual Language 1st grade Teacher | 3 | $53,074 |
| Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 | Dual Language (Spanish/English ) Teacher | 2 | $45,491 |
| Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 | Dual Language Teacher | 2 | $44,426 |
| Suburban Alliance for Jewish Education | Elementary Teacher | 1 | $47,950 |
| Rantoul City School District 137 | Bilingual Elementary School Teacher | 1 | $59,139 |
| Elementary School District 159 | World Spanish Teacher | 1 | $50,190 |
| South-East Asia Center | Youth Tutoring - Pre-K-9th Grade | 1 | $50,877 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Elementary Teacher at Suburban Alliance for Jewish Education$47,950Buffalo GroveDecided Dec 11, 2025I-200-25338-457072
- Teacher (Bilingual) at Chicago Public Schools$76,711ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-437580
- Bilingual Elementary School Teacher at Rantoul City School District 137$59,139RantoulWage Level IIDecided Aug 27, 2025I-200-25232-254457
- Teacher-Dual Language at North Chicago Community Unit School District 187$45,946North ChicagoDecided Aug 4, 2025I-200-25209-204317
- Dual Language 1st grade Teacher at Belvidere Community Unit School District 100$76,369BelvidereDecided Jul 30, 2025I-200-25204-195620
- Dual Language (Spanish/English ) Teacher at Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47$45,491Crystal LakeDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-189564
- Teacher-Dual Language at North Chicago Community Unit School District 187$83,200North ChicagoDecided Jul 18, 2025I-200-25192-170061
- Teacher (World Language - Spanish) at Chicago Public Schools$61,990ChicagoDecided Jul 14, 2025I-200-25188-155376
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Elementary School Teachers pay by experience level in Illinois
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Elementary School Teachers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 46 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $54,324.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 | 27 | $54,324 |
| PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER | LYCEE FRANCAIS DE CHICAGO | 6 | $68,919 |
| Dual Language Teacher | Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 | 4 | $45,227 |
| Elementary Teacher | Suburban Alliance for Jewish Education | 3 | $47,950 |
| Teacher-Dual Language | North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 | 3 | $83,200 |
| Elementary School Teacher | Hidaya Academy of Champaign-Urbana | 3 | $62,250 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Illinois over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Internship/residency
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- 02
Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- 03
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 04
Confer with parents or guardians, teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
- 05
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 06
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 07
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects and communicate those objectives to students.
- 08
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-2.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Elementary School Teachers
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for elementary school teachers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$75,020
Compare Elementary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Elementary School Teachers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Elementary School Teachers in Illinois is $64,160.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Elementary School Teachers?
- The Illinois median is -5.4% versus the BLS national figure of $67,847.
- What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $45,750 and the 90th-percentile at $101,350, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Elementary School Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -2.0% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Elementary School Teachers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.