Physics Teachers, Postsecondary pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $132,310 or more. The middle half of physics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago earn between $62,770 and $123,960.
- $61K10th
- $63K25th
- $84KMedian
- $124K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,480 | $8,040 | — |
| Median | $83,830 | $6,986 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,770 | $5,231 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $123,960 | $10,330 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Physics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago earn 7% less than the Illinois average ($103,950) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($111,460). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $100,310.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $96,480 | $83,830 | $61,150 | $132,310 | 330 |
| Illinois | $103,950 | $94,900 | $61,150 | $166,410 | 540 |
| United States | $111,460 | $100,310 | $60,200 | $177,850 | 13,090 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,480, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $72,069 a year, or $6,006 a month and $2,772 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $73,839 | $6,153 |
| Working in IL | $72,069 | $6,006 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for physics teachers, postsecondary? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $96,480 buys what about $93,132 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$93,650
- South Bend, IN$98,060
- Grand Rapids, MI$90,310
- Indianapolis, IN$88,930
- Ann Arbor, MI$140,250
- Detroit, MI$100,060
Highest-paying cities for physics teachers, postsecondary
Los Angeles, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($181,010).
- Los Angeles, CA$181,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,980
- San Diego, CA$164,460
- College Station, TX$159,810
- Riverside, CA$156,870
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Physics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in Chicago: questions
What is the entry-level physics teachers, postsecondary salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physics teachers, postsecondary take-home pay in Chicago?
About $72,069 a year ($6,006 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,480.
Do physics teachers, postsecondary earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($111,460).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-1054; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.86, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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