Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
What does a Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary really buy you in Illinois?
Illinois is near the US average cost of livingData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary earning $77,860 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,860 in an average-cost US state.
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) | $37,930 | $37,443 | $-486 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $50,960 | $50,306 | $-653 |
| Median (P50) | $77,860 | $76,860 | $-999 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $105,790 | $104,432 | $-1,357 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $130,950 | $129,269 | $-1,680 |
Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $77,860 keeps most of its value at $76,860 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.
After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $77,860 nominal nets out to $76,861 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 Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary.
Illinois ranks #38 of 50 — bottom quartile for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Illinois ranks #38 out of 50 states for Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →
A Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois earns a median salary of $77,860 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $76,860 — a -1.3% difference.
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).
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.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary in Illinois: $77,860 x (100 / 101.3) = $76,860. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.