Geography Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a geography teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $103,280/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $40K at the entry level to $139K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $99,701 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 27.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $103K 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 geography teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Geography teachers, postsecondary pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.1% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level geography teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $40K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $139K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geography Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $146K | +50% | 280 |
| Oregon | $114K | +16% | 180 |
| Vermont | $108K | +10% | 40 |
| Connecticut | $105K | +8% | 40 |
| Maryland | $103K | +6% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $102K | +4% | 60 |
| Illinois | $101K | +3% | 140 |
| New York | $100K | +3% | 200 |
| Texas | $100K | +2% | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $97K | -0% | 220 |
| Minnesota | $96K | -2% | 120 |
| Washington | $91K | -7% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $89K | -9% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $87K | -11% | 50 |
| South Carolina | $86K | -12% | 80 |
| Georgia | $85K | -12% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $85K | -13% | 160 |
| Oklahoma | $84K | -14% | 50 |
| Missouri | $84K | -14% | 40 |
| Indiana | $83K | -15% | 70 |
| Arizona | $83K | -15% | 110 |
| Michigan | $81K | -17% | 80 |
| Ohio | $81K | -17% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -17% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -19% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $79K | -20% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $75K | -23% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $72K | -26% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 28 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geography 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
Can a geography teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 28.1% 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 geography teachers, postsecondaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geography teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $40K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,377/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geography teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for geography teachers, postsecondaries?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $100K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do geography teachers, postsecondaries make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $103,280 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,610, and experienced geography teachers, postsecondaries can clear $139,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,328/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 28.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a geography 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 geography teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $99,701 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geography 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.