School Psychologists Salary
The median pay for a school psychologists in Illinois is $84,690/year ($40.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $90,240 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 26.3% 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 $85K get you in Illinois?
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for school psychologists in Illinois runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $96K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% 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 school psychologists (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $65K spread from bottom to top.
School Psychologists salary by metro in Illinois
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $91K | +7% | 2,770 |
| Springfield | $87K | +3% | 70 |
| Rockford | $83K | -2% | 90 |
| Bloomington | $81K | -5% | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $76K | -10% | 60 |
| Peoria | $76K | -10% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track school psychologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a school psychologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 26.5% 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 school psychologists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new school psychologists typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,757/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is school psychologist a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $85K here vs. $96K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for school psychologists?
Illinois pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $96K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do school psychologists make in Illinois?
The median is $84,690 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,620, and experienced school psychologists can clear $127,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,314/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 26.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a school psychologists 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 school psychologists salary is worth about $90,240 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do school psychologists 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.