Special Education Teachers Pay Range in Illinois
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,660
- 25th Percentile — Junior$51,420
- 50th Percentile — Median$64,850
- 75th Percentile — Senior$79,110
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$100,320
Half of Special Education Teachers in Illinois earn more than $64,850. The top 10% make $100,320 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,660.
Special Education Teachers in Illinois: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Illinois ranks 19th of 42 states for Special Education Teachers pay, at $69,780 per year (12.5% below the U.S. average of $79,750).
- 2,560 people work as Special Education Teachers in Illinois — 7.5% of all U.S. Special Education Teachers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.92: Special Education Teachers jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,660; the top 10% earn over $100,320.
- Hourly equivalent: $33.55 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $101,160.
- Among education jobs in Illinois, Business Professors pays the most ($108,900).
Special Education Teachers Job Market in Illinois
Key factors affecting compensation
Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Special Education Teachers here earn $69,780 on average, placing the state 19th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $69,780 is roughly equivalent to $66,457 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Utah ($73,090), New Jersey ($72,910), District of Columbia ($72,850) are the closest alternatives for Special Education Teachers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Education Jobs in Illinois
Related career salary benchmarks
- Business Professors $108,900/yr Illinois +56.1% vs this role
- Biological Science Professors $108,130/yr Illinois +55.0% vs this role
- Computer Science Professors $103,710/yr Illinois +48.6% vs this role
- Chemistry Professors $100,070/yr Illinois +43.4% vs this role
- Secondary School Teachers $89,320/yr Illinois +28.0% vs this role
- Mathematical Science Professors $82,100/yr Illinois +17.7% vs this role
- English Language Professors $80,140/yr Illinois +14.8% vs this role
- Instructional Coordinators $76,590/yr Illinois +9.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Special Education Teachers salary in Illinois?
The average Special Education Teachers salary in Illinois is $69,780 per year (median $64,850), which is 12.5% below the national average of $79,750.
How does Illinois rank for Special Education Teachers pay?
Illinois ranks 19th out of 42 states. The highest-paying state is California ($101,160/yr).
How much do entry-level Special Education Teachers make in Illinois?
The lowest-paid 10% of Special Education Teachers in Illinois earn about $47,660 per year and the 25th percentile is $51,420.
How much do Special Education Teachers make per hour in Illinois?
About $33.55 per hour, based on the $69,780 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Special Education Teachers work in Illinois?
BLS counts 2,560 Special Education Teachers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).
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