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Substitute Teachers, Short-Term Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 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
$39,410
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$38,904
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 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term earning $39,410 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $38,904 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) $31,200 $30,799 $-400
25th Percentile (P25) $34,500 $34,057 $-442
Median (P50) $39,410 $38,904 $-505
75th Percentile (P75) $46,710 $46,110 $-599
90th Percentile (P90) $58,040 $57,295 $-744
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $39,410 keeps most of its value at $38,904 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 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term 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, $39,410 nominal nets out to $38,904 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 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#25 / 50

Illinois sits at #25 of 50 states for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term (After Cost of Living)

Where does Substitute Teachers, Short-Term salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alaska
$65,607
RPP 102.0
$54,955
RPP 89.2
3. Oregon
$54,671
RPP 106.6
$53,600
RPP 112.5
5. Hawaii
$52,824
RPP 110.8
$51,576
RPP 97.7
$50,765
RPP 109.8
$47,993
RPP 88.7
$47,616
RPP 92.3
$46,642
RPP 96.2

Illinois ranks #25 out of 50 states for Substitute Teachers, Short-Term after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Substitute Teachers, Short-Term take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Illinois after cost of living?

A Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Illinois earns a median salary of $39,410 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $38,904 — 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 Substitute Teachers, Short-Term in Illinois: $39,410 x (100 / 101.3) = $38,904. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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