Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $63,470/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $107K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $61,270 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 42.7% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $63K 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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Pay for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 42.8% 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $65K | $70K |
| St. Louis | $79K | $83K |
| Columbia | $81K | $91K |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $74K | $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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $63K. Top earners bring in $107K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $133K | +82% | 2,760 |
| Rhode Island | $127K | +73% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $102K | +40% | 110 |
| Utah | $102K | +40% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $98K | +35% | 410 |
| Michigan | $97K | +34% | 220 |
| Virginia | $95K | +30% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $90K | +23% | 60 |
| Iowa | $84K | +15% | 150 |
| Vermont | $84K | +15% | 50 |
| Nevada | $84K | +15% | 150 |
| New York | $79K | +8% | 1,840 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | +8% | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $77K | +6% | 60 |
| Missouri | $76K | +4% | 290 |
| Indiana | $74K | +2% | 170 |
| Connecticut | $74K | +1% | 110 |
| Texas | $74K | +1% | 1,530 |
| Ohio | $74K | +1% | 200 |
| Washington | $73K | -0% | 80 |
| Oregon | $72K | -1% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $72K | -2% | 240 |
| Arizona | $71K | -2% | 370 |
| Maryland | $69K | -6% | 500 |
| Maine | $66K | -9% | 110 |
| South Carolina | $66K | -10% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $65K | -11% | 340 |
| North Dakota | $64K | -13% | 70 |
| Illinois | $63K | -13% | 1,700 |
| West Virginia | $63K | -13% | 40 |
| New Jersey | $63K | -13% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $62K | -15% | N/A |
| Idaho | $61K | -16% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $61K | -17% | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $60K | -17% | 40 |
| Florida | $57K | -22% | 1,390 |
| Georgia | $54K | -26% | 320 |
| Kansas | $52K | -29% | 190 |
| Pennsylvania | $49K | -33% | 1,090 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -49% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 40 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other 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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $63K, rent takes 42.8% 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 $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,872/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 95% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $63K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $63K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $63,470 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,200, and experienced social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others can clear $106,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $63K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,158/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 42.8% 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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other 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 social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all other salary is worth about $61,270 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social sciences teachers, postsecondary, all others 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.