Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in Illinois
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary in Illinois earn a median of $36,990 a year, based on BLS data for 64,210 workers.
Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,100 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $36,780. Illinois ranks 21st of 51 states for teaching assistants, except postsecondary pay. There are 11 teaching assistants, except postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $38,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $31,360 |
| Median | $36,990 |
| 75th percentile | $44,790 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $48,100 |
| Average (mean) | $38,950 |
Half of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,082.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,541.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,422.69 |
| Weekly | $711.35 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because teaching assistants, except postsecondary are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur, IL | $48,480 | 550 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $37,840 | 46,770 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $36,410 | 10,010 |
| Peoria, IL | $35,970 | 1,980 |
| Kankakee, IL | $35,430 | 590 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $34,530 | 2,100 |
| Springfield, IL | $33,740 | 1,020 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $32,220 | 1,080 |
| Rockford, IL | $32,020 | 1,470 |
| Bloomington, IL | $31,710 | 800 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $29,970 | 350 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $29,070 | 600 |
Highest-paying states for teaching assistants, except postsecondary
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $49,120 |
| District of Columbia | $46,920 |
| Maine | $46,750 |
| California | $46,490 |
| Vermont | $43,800 |
| Minnesota | $40,100 |
| Oregon | $39,850 |
| Massachusetts | $39,380 |
| Virginia | $38,520 |
| New Hampshire | $38,440 |
See Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $36,040 | — |
| Instructional Coordinator | $76,050 | $36.56 |
| Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other | $46,390 | $22.30 |
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $75,320 | — |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $79,990 | — |
| Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $76,110 | — |
| Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education | $40,910 | $19.67 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| Self-Enrichment Teacher | $44,230 | $21.26 |
| Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School | $77,960 | — |
| Special Education Teachers, Secondary School | $79,890 | — |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $92,860 | — |
| Tutor | $37,400 | $17.98 |
| Librarians and Media Collections Specialists | $62,700 | $30.14 |
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-9045. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Illinois?
The median salary for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Illinois is $36,990 a year. Pay ranges from $31,200 for the lowest-paid 10% to $48,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid teaching assistants, except postsecondary make in Illinois?
The top 10% of teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Illinois earn at least $48,100 a year. The top 25% earn $44,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for teaching assistants, except postsecondary in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $31,200 a year, and a quarter of teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn $31,360 or less.
How many teaching assistants, except postsecondary work in Illinois?
About 64,210 teaching assistants, except postsecondary are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.