Jason Helfer Chief Education Officer - Instruction | Twitter
Jason Helfer Chief Education Officer - Instruction | Twitter
The average salary in the district in 2024 was 4.7% lower than in 2023 and 3.8% less than in 2022. District administrators made 21% less than the state average of $119,384.
Administrator salaries depend on the district’s size, location, and resources, as well as the individual’s level of experience and education, according to the Illinois State Board of Education report.
In Illinois, school administrators are educational leaders who oversee the management and operations of schools and districts. This includes roles such as superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, directors of special education, and chief school business officials.
These positions require a Professional Educator License (PEL) endorsed in an administrative field, which involves meeting specific educational and experiential criteria set by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Mercer County School District 404 enrolled 1,230 students in the 2023-24 school year. This means there was an average of 156 students for every administrator, compared to the statewide ratio of 135 to 1.
Mercer County School District 404 roughly covers schools within Mercer County and has a main office in Aledo.
District information was gathered from the Illinois Report Card.
The Illinois Educator Shortage Survey found more than 3,800 unfilled teaching positions in the 2024-25 school year, down 5.6% from the previous year.
The survey also reported nearly 200 vacant administrator roles, a notable increase of 16.7%. Despite the rise, only about one-third of educational leaders said administrator shortages were a problem.
| State Rank | Year | Average salary | Student-to-administrator ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 709 | 2024 | $94,259 | 156-to-1 |
| 572 | 2023 | $98,907 | 184-to-1 |
| 559 | 2022 | $97,998 | 181-to-1 |
| 632 | 2021 | $92,737 | 181-to-1 |
| 637 | 2020 | $91,048 | 184-to-1 |
| 613 | 2019 | $91,766 | 193-to-1 |
| 679 | 2018 | $86,868 | 193-to-1 |
| 662 | 2017 | $86,833 | 199-to-1 |
| 661 | 2016 | $84,225 | 193-to-1 |
| 802 | 2015 | $70,928 | 171-to-1 |
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