Teachers of Tomorrow: Your Resource for Teaching Salary Information and Career Guidance
Educators nurture a love of learning and empower young minds to reach their full potential. Since teachers are always in demand, a teaching career offers job security and stability.
Teachers also have summers and holidays off, which allows them time to engage in fun activities with friends and family or pursue professional development.
Illinois offers a vibrant environment to live and work in cities like Chicago, charming towns like Galena, and stunning natural beauty in places like Shawnee National Forest.
Before embarking on your teaching journey, it’s crucial to be well-informed about salaries. This will give you an idea of what to expect, allowing you to plan your future accordingly. On average, a high school teacher in Illinois earns approximately $80,200 annually.
In this guide, we’ll dig deep into salary insights for high school teachers in Illinois, exploring the factors that influence your earning potential.
We’ll also provide information on the requirements and process of becoming a certified high school teacher in the state.
What Is a High School Teacher?
A high school teacher works with students in grades 9–12. They specialize in specific subjects, such as mathematics, science, English, or history, and prepare students for college, careers, and adult life.
High school students are commonly 14–18 years old. During this adolescent period, they experience physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. They are searching for personal identity, have increased independence, and heightened sensitivity to peer influence.
High school teachers must be empathetic to understand and address the challenges and pressures high school students face with compassion and support.
Besides teaching, they provide academic and career guidance and personal mentorship to help students navigate their futures.
The following are the duties of a high school teacher in Illinois:
- Developing detailed lesson plans that align with state curriculum standards and preparing instructional materials.
- Delivering lessons, facilitating class discussions, and conducting interactive activities to engage students with different learning styles.
- Evaluating student progress through assessments and assignments and providing feedback to help students improve.
- Maintaining an orderly classroom environment, addressing behavioral issues, and promoting respect and collaboration.
- Offering extra help to students who need individualized instruction to help them keep up with their peers.
- Collaborating with colleagues, administrators, and parents to help support student learning and address any concerns.
- Completing paperwork, such as attendance records and progress reports.
- Supervising or organizing extracurricular activities, field trips, and school events.
High school teachers are also expected to participate in professional development activities such as training sessions, workshops, or continuing education courses to stay current with educational trends and maintain their certification.
How Much Does a High School Teacher Make In Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary of a high school teacher in Illinois is approximately $80,200. This figure can vary widely, with the lowest-earning teacher making $48,150 and the highest taking home $128,820 annually.
- Location: Teachers in urban areas, such as Chicago, earn higher salaries than those in rural areas. The cost of living in urban areas is higher, which leads to higher pay scales.
- Years of experience: New teachers start at the lower end of the pay scale. Salaries increase with years of experience, reaching higher levels for experienced teachers.
- Education Level: Teachers with a Master’s or Doctorate often earn higher salaries than those with only a Bachelor’s degree. Holding additional certifications or endorsements can also lead to higher pay.
- Teacher shortages in high-demand subjects: Teachers in high-demand subjects such as STEM, special education, or ESL (English as a Second Language) receive higher salaries due to shortages in these areas.
Wages in USD
A chart showing Illinois high school teachers’ salaries by percentile based on BLS data.
How to Become a High School Teacher In Illinois
According to a state report, over 90% of Illinois schools are facing teacher shortages. This means there are numerous employment opportunities for individuals who get certified.
Becoming a high school teacher in Illinois involves completing each of the following steps:
- Obtain a bachelor’s degree: You need to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Your degree should be in secondary education with a focus on your desired subject or the subject area you wish to teach.
- Complete a teacher preparation program: The second step involves completing a state-approved teacher preparation program. This includes coursework in educational theory, teaching methods, and classroom management.
- Practical experience: You participate in a student teaching internship. This involves working under the supervision of an experienced teacher in a real classroom setting to gain practical teaching experience.
- Pass state certification exams: Pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content-area test for the subject you plan to teach. These tests assess your proficiency in your specific subject area. You must also pass the edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment), which evaluates your teaching skills through a portfolio of materials that includes lesson plans, student assessments, and video recordings of your teaching.
- Apply for a teaching license: Apply for the Professional Educator License (PEL) through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). You’ll need to submit your transcripts and test scores and undergo a background check, including fingerprinting.
Note: Illinois requires teachers to renew their PEL every five years, which involves completing 120 hours of professional development. You must engage in continuous professional development to keep your teaching license current and to stay up-to-date with new teaching methods and educational research.
For individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field, Illinois offers alternative certification pathways.
Alternative Certification for High School Teachers in Illinois
Alternative certification is a pathway to becoming a licensed teacher for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than education.
This route is designed to attract professionals from diverse backgrounds into the teaching profession and address teacher shortages.
Here’s an overview of how to become a high school teacher in Illinois through alternative certification:
- Bachelor’s degree: To enroll, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 minimum GPA. Choose an alternative certification program approved by the ISBE.
- Complete coursework: The coursework encompasses intensive pre-service training that covers educational theory, teaching methods, classroom management, and pedagogy.
- Pass required exams: Just as in the traditional certification method, you must pass the ILTS content-area tests for the subjects you intend to teach and the edTPA.
- Participate in a teaching internship: This involves teaching in a classroom setting under the supervision of an experienced mentor teacher while completing your certification coursework.
- Pass background check: Complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, as part of the licensure process.
- Apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL): Apply for your Professional Educator License through the ISBE.
Through the alternative certification pathway in Illinois, you may begin teaching with a provisional or temporary license while completing the requirements for your full PEL. Once all requirements are met, you will receive your full PEL.
Alternative certification allows you to begin teaching more quickly than traditional routes because the training is condensed and accelerated to have you teaching within a year or less.
For instance, the Teachers of Tomorrow alternative certification program will have you in class in as little as three months. This method helps fill teacher shortages in critical subject areas and high-need schools.
The Highest and Lowest Paying High School Jobs in Illinois
Once you become certified to teach in high schools in Illinois, you can look for jobs in different types of educational settings. You can become a high school teacher in:
- Public schools: These are funded by local, state, and federal government sources. They are governed by school districts and adhere to state education standards.
- Charter schools: These schools are publicly funded but independently operated schools. They have more flexibility in their curriculum and teaching methods.
- Private schools: These are privately funded and operated schools that do not depend on government funding. They often have unique educational philosophies and smaller class sizes.
- Online schools: Offer online education to students, allowing teachers to conduct classes and provide instruction through digital platforms.
- Vocational and Technical Schools or Career and Technical Education (CTE) Schools: These focus on preparing students for specific careers by providing both academic education and vocational training in fields such as healthcare, technology, and trades.
Average Annual Salary in USD
A graph showing the variations in salaries across different high school jobs in Illinois.
Become a High School Teacher in Illinois
In Illinois, high school teachers have the potential to earn competitive salaries, with many earning upwards of $80,000 per year, especially in high-demand subject areas.
The state is currently experiencing a teacher shortage, making now an opportune time to enter the profession.
If you hold a bachelor’s degree in a non-education field, pursuing alternative certification through Teachers of Tomorrow is the quickest pathway to becoming a high school teacher.
The program offers high-quality training and support to help you transition into the classroom and start making a difference in students’ lives.
Explore the Teachers of Tomorrow alternative certification program and move towards your goal of becoming a high school teacher in Illinois.
Related Careers
Related Articles
How to Become a Certified Teacher in Alabama
