Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School Salary
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle Schools in Illinois make a median of $80,700 a year. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $113K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $85,988 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 27.6% 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 $81K get you in Illinois?
About career/technical education teachers, middle schools
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for career/technical education teachers, middle school, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $65K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% 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 career/technical education teachers, middle schools (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $113K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School 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 | $81K | +0% | 170 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a career/technical education teachers, middle school afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 27.6% 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 career/technical education teachers, middle schools in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new career/technical education teachers, middle schools typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,233/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is career/technical education teachers, middle school a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $81K here vs. $65K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for career/technical education teachers, middle schools?
Illinois pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $65K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do career/technical education teachers, middle schools make in Illinois?
The median is $80,700 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,890, and experienced career/technical education teachers, middle schools can clear $113,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,097/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 27.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a career/technical education teachers, middle school 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 career/technical education teachers, middle school salary is worth about $85,988 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do career/technical education teachers, middle schools 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.