Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $83,830 a year, based on BLS data for 330 workers.

Median salary
$83,830
Average
$96,480
Top 10% earn
$132,310
Workers
330

Pay ranges from $61,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,310 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $100,310. Pay here is 12% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $94,900. There are 0.07 physics teachers, postsecondary per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $96,480, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.

Pay range for physics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

$0$190,000
Pay levelYearly
10th percentile (entry level)$61,150
25th percentile$62,770
Median$83,830
75th percentile$123,960
90th percentile (top earners)$132,310
Average (mean)$96,480

Half of physics teachers, 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 periodAmount
Monthly$6,985.83
Semi-monthly (24 a year)$3,492.92
Biweekly (26 a year)$3,224.23
Weekly$1,612.12

BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because physics teachers, 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.

Buying a home? On a $83,830 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in other metro areas nearby

Metro areaMedian salaryWorkers
St. Louis, MO-IL$102,530100
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$85,00030
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI$80,67040
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$78,430130

Highest-paying states for physics teachers, postsecondary

StateMedian salary
California$139,420
Connecticut$112,410
Massachusetts$111,280
Maryland$110,980
Michigan$109,090
New Mexico$108,850
Delaware$108,810
Minnesota$107,240
Idaho$106,040
Virginia$104,490

See Physics Teachers, Postsecondary pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.

Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-1054. 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 physics teachers, postsecondary make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

The median salary for physics teachers, postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,830 a year. Pay ranges from $61,150 for the lowest-paid 10% to $132,310 for the top 10%.

How much do the highest-paid physics teachers, postsecondary make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

The top 10% of physics teachers, postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $132,310 a year. The top 25% earn $123,960 or more.

What is the starting pay for physics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,150 a year, and a quarter of physics teachers, postsecondary earn $62,770 or less.

How many physics teachers, postsecondary work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?

About 330 physics teachers, postsecondary are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.