Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $100,760/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $144K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $97,268 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 28% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $101K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $85K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $144K or more, a $96K spread from bottom to top.
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $125K | +48% | 80 |
| Kansas | $107K | +26% | 90 |
| California | $105K | +24% | 770 |
| Rhode Island | $104K | +23% | N/A |
| Maine | $103K | +21% | 50 |
| New York | $102K | +20% | 1,520 |
| District of Columbia | $102K | +20% | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $100K | +18% | 610 |
| Connecticut | $100K | +18% | 310 |
| New Jersey | $98K | +15% | 480 |
| Pennsylvania | $96K | +13% | 260 |
| Maryland | $91K | +7% | 520 |
| Illinois | $90K | +6% | 220 |
| Michigan | $88K | +3% | 460 |
| Virginia | $86K | +1% | 300 |
| Indiana | $85K | -0% | 260 |
| Utah | $83K | -2% | 40 |
| Alaska | $82K | -4% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $82K | -4% | 280 |
| Washington | $81K | -4% | 240 |
| Oregon | $80K | -6% | 340 |
| Ohio | $80K | -6% | 390 |
| Colorado | $79K | -7% | 160 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -7% | 180 |
| Montana | $79K | -7% | 90 |
| Georgia | $78K | -9% | 450 |
| Oklahoma | $77K | -10% | 50 |
| Wyoming | $76K | -10% | 40 |
| Arizona | $76K | -11% | 240 |
| Tennessee | $75K | -12% | 60 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -12% | 90 |
| Texas | $72K | -15% | 830 |
| West Virginia | $71K | -16% | 40 |
| Florida | $67K | -22% | 120 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -22% | 590 |
| South Carolina | $65K | -24% | 130 |
| Alabama | $63K | -26% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,891/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $101K here vs. $85K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $100,760 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,190, and experienced area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $144,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,190/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $97,268 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.