Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
The median pay for a preschool teachers, except special education in Illinois is $40,910/year ($19.67/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $43,591 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 50.4% 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 $41K get you in Illinois?
About preschool teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Illinois
Preschool teachers, except special education pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $41K locally vs. $38K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,407/month, which is 51.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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 preschool teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Preschool 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $47K | +14% | 380 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $43K | +5% | 17,180 |
| Decatur | $43K | +4% | 130 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $40K | -3% | 630 |
| Springfield | $38K | -6% | 450 |
| Kankakee | $38K | -7% | 190 |
| Peoria | $38K | -7% | 590 |
| Bloomington | $38K | -8% | 310 |
Compare to other states
Track preschool teachers, except special education salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a preschool teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $41K, rent takes 51.4% 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 $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for preschool teachers, except special educations in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new preschool teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,162/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 65% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is preschool teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $41K locally vs. $38K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for preschool teachers, except special educations?
Illinois pays $41K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $44K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do preschool teachers, except special educations make in Illinois?
The median is $40,910 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,030, and experienced preschool teachers, except special educations can clear $60,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,740/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 51.4% 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 preschool 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 preschool teachers, except special education salary is worth about $43,591 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do preschool 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.