Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Illinois is $87,150/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $92,861 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $87K get you in Illinois?
About atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Illinois runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $103K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $121K spread from bottom to top.
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $82K | -6% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 25.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,964/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $87K here vs. $103K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries?
Illinois pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries make in Illinois?
The median is $87,150 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,400, and experienced atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries can clear $170,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,449/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 25.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $92,861 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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.