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Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 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
$113,360
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$111,905
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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary earning $113,360 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $111,905 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) $78,070 $77,068 $-1,001
25th Percentile (P25) $96,130 $94,896 $-1,233
Median (P50) $113,360 $111,905 $-1,454
75th Percentile (P75) $137,200 $135,439 $-1,760
90th Percentile (P90) $169,400 $167,226 $-2,173
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $113,360 keeps most of its value at $111,905 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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary 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, $113,360 nominal nets out to $111,905 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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#24 / 51

Illinois sits at #24 of 51 states for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary (After Cost of Living)

Where does Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$151,721
RPP 109.8
$146,842
RPP 106.4
$142,177
RPP 112.5
4. Utah
$136,380
RPP 94.5
$135,418
RPP 98.0
$129,989
RPP 97.7
$129,024
RPP 107.6
$126,771
RPP 92.3
$126,323
RPP 108.8
10. Maryland
$125,247
RPP 105.0

Illinois ranks #24 out of 51 states for Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in Illinois after cost of living?

A Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in Illinois earns a median salary of $113,360 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $111,905 — 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 Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in Illinois: $113,360 x (100 / 101.3) = $111,905. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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