Salary distribution
Where Illinois middle school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $58,290 and $82,460, with a median of $64,800.
Middle School Teachers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 20 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $57,742. 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 | 5 | $53,760 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $60,960 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $48,820 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Middle School Teachers in Illinois. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Public Schools | Teacher (Math) | 5 | $85,704 |
| German School Chicago, NFP | Elementary and Middle School Teacher | 4 | $63,175 |
| Altus Academy | Middle School English Teacher | 2 | $39,025 |
| Rautoul City School District 137 | ESL Bilingual Teacher | 2 | $54,670 |
| Community Consolidated School District 54 | Dual Language Teacher | 1 | $47,898 |
| Lawndale Educational and Regional Network Charter School | Middle School Scient Teacher | 1 | $48,820 |
| The College of Governor French | World Language Teacher | 1 | $31,200 |
| Chicago Jewish Day School | Hebrew Teacher | 1 | $53,760 |
| Hadi School NFP | Lead Teacher | 1 | $53,760 |
| Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 | Bilingual ESL English Language Arts Teacher | 1 | $60,611 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Middle School English Teacher at Altus Academy$38,000ChicagoDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312680
- Elementary and Middle School Teacher at German School Chicago, NFP$67,250ChicagoWage Level IIDecided Sep 22, 2025I-200-25258-308179
- Teacher (Science) at Chicago Public Schools$97,050ChicagoDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-277647
- Dual Language Teacher at Community Consolidated School District 54$47,898SchaumburgDecided Aug 12, 2025I-200-25217-222946
- Middle School Scient Teacher at Lawndale Educational and Regional Network Charter School$48,820ChicagoWage Level IVDecided Jul 21, 2025I-200-25195-172976
- Teacher (Science) at Chicago Public Schools$61,990ChicagoDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-163797
- Teacher (Math) at Chicago Public Schools$94,584ChicagoDecided Jul 11, 2025I-200-25184-150998
- World Language Teacher at The College of Governor French$31,200BellevilleWage Level IDecided Jul 3, 2025I-200-25177-132284
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.
Middle 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.
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
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- 02
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 03
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate these objectives to students.
- 04
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 05
Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
- 06
Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
- 07
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 08
Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-2.0%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Illinois
Metro-level salary data for middle school teachers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$75,690
Compare Middle School Teachers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Middle School Teachers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Middle School Teachers in Illinois is $64,800.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Middle School Teachers?
- The Illinois median is -4.6% versus the BLS national figure of $67,911.
- What is the salary range for Middle School Teachers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,090 and the 90th-percentile at $101,940, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Middle 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 Middle 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.