Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
The median pay for a art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $65,060/year ($null/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $62,805 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month — about 41.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $65K 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.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $129K | +61% | 570 |
| New York | $110K | +37% | 17,600 |
| California | $106K | +32% | 10,100 |
| New Jersey | $99K | +24% | 3,060 |
| Rhode Island | $99K | +23% | 450 |
| Connecticut | $98K | +23% | 970 |
| Vermont | $87K | +8% | 230 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +4% | 5,780 |
| New Hampshire | $83K | +4% | 390 |
| District of Columbia | $83K | +4% | 330 |
| Maine | $82K | +2% | 360 |
| Maryland | $82K | +2% | 1,570 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | +1% | 4,070 |
| Alaska | $80K | +0% | 50 |
| Georgia | $79K | -1% | 2,020 |
| Missouri | $78K | -3% | 1,400 |
| Washington | $77K | -4% | 1,440 |
| Indiana | $77K | -4% | 2,050 |
| Michigan | $77K | -4% | 2,620 |
| Minnesota | $77K | -5% | 1,260 |
| Texas | $76K | -5% | 7,190 |
| Louisiana | $76K | -5% | 580 |
| Montana | $76K | -6% | 210 |
| Iowa | $76K | -6% | 970 |
| Oregon | $75K | -7% | 1,050 |
| Ohio | $73K | -9% | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $68K | -15% | 1,160 |
| Virginia | $68K | -15% | 2,630 |
| North Carolina | $67K | -16% | 2,980 |
| Nebraska | $67K | -16% | 500 |
| Illinois | $67K | -17% | 3,910 |
| North Dakota | $66K | -18% | 140 |
| Delaware | $65K | -19% | 180 |
| Tennessee | $65K | -19% | 1,530 |
| Florida | $65K | -19% | 3,230 |
| West Virginia | $65K | -19% | 360 |
| Alabama | $64K | -20% | 940 |
| New Mexico | $64K | -20% | 430 |
| Wisconsin | $64K | -21% | 1,360 |
| Arkansas | $64K | -21% | 620 |
| Kentucky | $64K | -21% | 810 |
| Utah | $64K | -21% | 890 |
| Idaho | $63K | -21% | 300 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -21% | 1,030 |
| South Dakota | $62K | -23% | 210 |
| Mississippi | $62K | -23% | 600 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -24% | 740 |
| Wyoming | $60K | -25% | 160 |
| Kansas | $59K | -27% | 580 |
| Nevada | $50K | -38% | 270 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondaries make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $65,060 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,280, and experienced art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondaries can clear $128,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,245/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 42% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a art, drama, and music 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 art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $62,805 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do art, drama, and music 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.