Salary distribution
Where Illinois secondary school teachers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $60,200 and $100,790, with a median of $77,020.
Secondary School Teachers in Illinois: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 36 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $63,035. 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 | 17 | $60,580 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $71,932 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Secondary 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) | 7 | $80,099 |
| East Aurora School District 131 | Special Education Instructional Teacher | 7 | $61,466 |
| Dekalb Community Unit School District 428 | High School Science Teacher | 2 | $59,490 |
| Lake Forest Academy | Modern & Classical Languages Teacher | 2 | $57,840 |
| Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 | Bilingual Foreign Language Spanish Teacher | 2 | $83,267 |
| Lycee Francais de Chicago | Secondary School Mathematics Teacher | 2 | $71,932 |
| County of McHenry School District 50 | Bilingual ESL Teacher | 1 | $57,995 |
| Crawford County Community Unit School District 3 | Secondary Science Teacher | 1 | $50,711 |
| McLean County Unit District No. 5 | Secondary Spanish Language Teacher | 1 | $47,656 |
| Ashton-Franklin Center CUSD | Teacher | 1 | $70,743 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Teacher (Math) at Chicago Public Schools$76,711ChicagoDecided Dec 3, 2025I-200-25329-437578
- Bilingual ESL Teacher at County of McHenry School District 50$57,995HarvardDecided Sep 15, 2025I-200-25251-294467
- High School Science Teacher at Dekalb Community Unit School District 428$64,080DeKalbWage Level IDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25233-259141
- Secondary Science Teacher at Crawford County Community Unit School District 3$50,711PalestineDecided Aug 20, 2025I-200-25225-239764
- Special Education Instructional Teacher at East Aurora School District 131$57,693AuroraWage Level IDecided Jul 31, 2025I-200-25205-197420
- Special Education Instructional Teacher at East Aurora School District 131$64,305AuroraWage Level IDecided Jul 31, 2025I-200-25205-198147
- Special Education Instructional Teacher at East Aurora School District 131$61,466AuroraWage Level IDecided Jul 31, 2025I-200-25205-198202
- Special Education Instructional Teacher at East Aurora School District 131$57,693AuroraWage Level IDecided Jul 31, 2025I-200-25205-197445
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.
Secondary 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.
Secondary School Teachers specialties in Illinois
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 17 certified offers. The most common variant is Teacher at a median of $80,099.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | Chicago Public Schools | 10 | $80,099 |
| Special Education Instructional Teacher | East Aurora School District 131 | 7 | $61,466 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Secondary School Teachers in Illinois, by industry
Median offered wage across 36 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $61,990.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Chicago Public Schools | 35 | $61,990 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Chicago Hope Academy | 1 | $1,716,520 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer 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
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Education and Training
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Instructing
Technical
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Learning Strategies
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- 02
Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- 03
Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- 04
Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
- 05
Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- 06
Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- 07
Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- 08
Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
-1.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Declining
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for secondary school teachers in major Illinois metropolitan areas.
- Chicago$80,440
Compare Secondary School Teachers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Secondary School Teachers in Illinois?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Secondary School Teachers in Illinois is $77,020.
- How does Illinois compare to the national median for Secondary School Teachers?
- The Illinois median is +6.7% versus the BLS national figure of $72,150.
- What is the salary range for Secondary School Teachers in Illinois?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $47,520 and the 90th-percentile at $129,510, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Secondary School Teachers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment declining by -1.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Secondary 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.