Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Illinois, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $64,020 at the median. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $68,215 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 33.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $64K get you in Illinois?
About kindergarten teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Illinois
Kindergarten teachers, except special education pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 2% difference. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Illinois
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $70K | +10% | 3,350 |
| Rockford | $65K | +2% | 100 |
| Bloomington | $65K | +2% | 70 |
| Springfield | $64K | +0% | 120 |
| Decatur | $64K | -1% | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $61K | -5% | 100 |
| Peoria | $60K | -6% | 160 |
| Kankakee | $57K | -11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for kindergarten teachers, except special educations in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,762/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is kindergarten teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
Illinois pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in Illinois?
The median is $64,020 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,040, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $103,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,188/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 33.6% 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education salary is worth about $68,215 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do kindergarten teachers, except special educations 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.