Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a psychology teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $77,860/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $75,162 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 34.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $78K 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 psychology teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Psychology teachers, postsecondary pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $78K locally vs. $80K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 36% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington | $84K | $90K |
| Green Bay | $69K | $74K |
| St. Louis | $81K | $85K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $77K | $80K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level psychology teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $78K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $107K | +34% | 4,410 |
| Delaware | $102K | +27% | N/A |
| Maryland | $101K | +26% | 640 |
| District of Columbia | $101K | +26% | 340 |
| New York | $101K | +25% | 4,070 |
| Michigan | $100K | +24% | 920 |
| North Dakota | $97K | +21% | 60 |
| New Hampshire | $95K | +18% | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $94K | +17% | 180 |
| Utah | $93K | +16% | 200 |
| Louisiana | $91K | +14% | 140 |
| Connecticut | $85K | +5% | 920 |
| New Mexico | $84K | +4% | 100 |
| Idaho | $83K | +3% | 180 |
| Massachusetts | $83K | +3% | 2,640 |
| Minnesota | $83K | +3% | 760 |
| Maine | $82K | +2% | 110 |
| Nevada | $81K | +1% | 140 |
| Vermont | $81K | +1% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $81K | +1% | 1,630 |
| Oregon | $80K | -0% | 660 |
| Kansas | $80K | -1% | 230 |
| Georgia | $79K | -1% | 820 |
| Missouri | $79K | -1% | 590 |
| Alaska | $79K | -2% | 70 |
| Arizona | $79K | -2% | 940 |
| Ohio | $79K | -2% | 1,500 |
| Iowa | $78K | -2% | 320 |
| Washington | $78K | -3% | 840 |
| Virginia | $78K | -3% | 1,050 |
| Illinois | $78K | -3% | 2,260 |
| Indiana | $78K | -3% | 760 |
| Wisconsin | $78K | -3% | 630 |
| Nebraska | $77K | -4% | 170 |
| Montana | $77K | -4% | 90 |
| Texas | $77K | -4% | 3,380 |
| Colorado | $77K | -4% | 960 |
| Tennessee | $76K | -5% | 790 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | -5% | 2,120 |
| Alabama | $75K | -6% | 610 |
| North Carolina | $75K | -6% | 1,100 |
| South Carolina | $75K | -7% | 390 |
| Kentucky | $75K | -7% | 590 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -8% | 150 |
| Florida | $69K | -14% | 1,120 |
| Wyoming | $65K | -19% | 80 |
| South Dakota | $65K | -19% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $63K | -22% | 260 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -23% | 410 |
| Arkansas | $61K | -24% | 190 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track psychology teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a psychology teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $78K, rent takes 36% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for psychology teachers, postsecondaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new psychology teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,314/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 77% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is psychology teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $78K locally vs. $80K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for psychology teachers, postsecondaries?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $78K median vs. the U.S. average of $80K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondaries make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $77,860 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,570, and experienced psychology teachers, postsecondaries can clear $130,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $78K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,942/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 36% 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 psychology 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 psychology teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $75,162 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do psychology 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.