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Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$80,700
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$79,664
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School earning $80,700 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $79,664 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $53,890 $53,198 $-691
25th Percentile (P25) $62,730 $61,924 $-805
Median (P50) $80,700 $79,664 $-1,035
75th Percentile (P75) $96,470 $95,231 $-1,238
90th Percentile (P90) $113,320 $111,865 $-1,454
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $80,700 keeps most of its value at $79,664 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $80,700 nominal nets out to $79,664 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#12 / 34

Illinois sits at #12 of 34 states for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School (After Cost of Living)

Where does Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Ohio
$94,601
RPP 91.5
$94,071
RPP 109.8
$92,874
RPP 104.7
4. Utah
$91,947
RPP 94.5
$89,924
RPP 106.4
$85,246
RPP 109.4
$83,377
RPP 97.7
$83,271
RPP 92.3
$81,060
RPP 96.2
10. New York
$80,343
RPP 107.6

Illinois ranks #12 out of 34 states for Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School in Illinois after cost of living?

A Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School in Illinois earns a median salary of $80,700 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $79,664 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School in Illinois: $80,700 x (100 / 101.3) = $79,664. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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