Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in Illinois
$86,150avg. a year
Annual salary · 9,490 employed
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in Illinois earn an average of $86,150 a year. That is $8,890 (12%) more than the U.S. average of $77,260. The best-paying metro area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN at $91,740.
$79,890Median pay
$86,150Average yearly
+20%Avg. pay since 2020
#8Of 50 states + D.C.
Top-paying Illinois metro areas
Average pay for special education teachers, secondary school by metro area. Swipe to see all 11.
17,360 jobs
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
$91,740
a year
2220 jobs
Rockford, IL
$73,060
a year
3100 jobs
Springfield, IL
$71,860
a year
4100 jobs
Decatur, IL
$69,970
a year
550 jobs
Bloomington, IL
$67,430
a year
6170 jobs
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
$67,070
a year
7140 jobs
Champaign-Urbana, IL
$65,200
a year
8100 jobs
Kankakee, IL
$64,890
a year
91,040 jobs
St. Louis, MO-IL
$62,780
a year
10120 jobs
Peoria, IL
$62,210
a year
1150 jobs
Paducah, KY-IL
$59,030
a year
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in Illinois, charted
Pay over time
Illinois, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where Illinois special education teachers, secondary school work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · Illinois highlighted · tap a state
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Under $63k$63k–$67k$67k–$77k$77k+Illinois
Illinois vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $77,260 | – |
| Illinois | $86,150 | – |
| Wisconsin | $66,440 | – |
| Indiana | $65,450 | – |
| Iowa | $63,800 | – |
| Kentucky | $60,910 | – |
| Missouri | $56,900 | – |
Related jobs in Illinois
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$74,630
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$89,320
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$75,870
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$45,150
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$77,170
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$85,750
Average pay, Illinois, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do special education teachers, secondary school make in Illinois?
The average is $86,150 a year, and the median is $79,890. That is $8,890 (12%) more than the U.S. average of $77,260.
Where in Illinois do they earn the most?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN ($91,740), followed by Rockford, IL ($73,060). The lowest average among 11 metro areas with data is Paducah, KY-IL ($59,030).
How does Illinois rank?
Illinois ranks #8 of 51 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 25-2058. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national special education teachers, secondary school page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.