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Transportation Security Screeners Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Transportation Security Screeners 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
$70,570
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$69,664
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 Transportation Security Screeners earning $70,570 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,664 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) $45,070 $44,491 $-578
25th Percentile (P25) $63,130 $62,319 $-810
Median (P50) $70,570 $69,664 $-905
75th Percentile (P75) $75,130 $74,165 $-964
90th Percentile (P90) $75,190 $74,225 $-964
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $70,570 keeps most of its value at $69,664 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 Transportation Security Screeners 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, $70,570 nominal nets out to $69,664 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 Transportation Security Screeners.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#18 / 45

Illinois sits at #18 of 45 states for Transportation Security Screeners COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Transportation Security Screeners (After Cost of Living)

Where does Transportation Security Screeners salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

1. Alabama
$72,630
RPP 87.8
$72,313
RPP 87.3
$72,152
RPP 93.4
4. Ohio
$71,989
RPP 91.5
$70,773
RPP 89.2
$70,752
RPP 107.6
$70,615
RPP 89.4
$70,565
RPP 86.6
9. Texas
$70,400
RPP 97.5
10. Kansas
$70,144
RPP 90.0

Illinois ranks #18 out of 45 states for Transportation Security Screeners after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Transportation Security Screeners take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Transportation Security Screeners in Illinois after cost of living?

A Transportation Security Screeners in Illinois earns a median salary of $70,570 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $69,664 — 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 Transportation Security Screeners in Illinois: $70,570 x (100 / 101.3) = $69,664. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

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