West Central Reporter

Administrators in West Prairie Community Unit School District 103 earn an average of $84,631 per year, ranking 784th in the state, according to the Illinois State Board of Education report.

The average salary in the district in 2022 is 13.7% lower than in 2021 and 1.8% more than in 2020. District administrators make 27.1% less than the state average of $116,166.

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.

West Prairie Community Unit School District 103 enrolled 580 students in 2021-22. There is an average of 118 students for every administrator, compared to a statewide ratio of 147 to 1.

West Prairie Community Unit School District 103 roughly covers schools within McDonough County and has a main office in Colchester.

District information was gathered from the Illinois Report Card.

As of 2020, 85 percent of school districts documented that the teacher shortage was a “major” or “minor” problem.

According to the 2021 Illinois Educator Shortage Survey, 88% of the 663 school districts that participated reported having trouble locating instructors and substitute teachers.

The Illinois State Board of Education reports that in 2022, there were more than 5,300 unfilled positions. According to school districts that responded to a 2022 IARSS survey, 68% reported fewer teacher applications than in 2021, and 45% of districts said the shortage was worse than last year.

State Rank	Year	Average salary	Student-to-administrator ratio
784	2022	$84,631	118-to-1
539	2021	$98,061	119-to-1
756	2020	$83,115	127-to-1
726	2019	$84,423	122-to-1
737	2018	$83,531	122-to-1
610	2017	$89,383	156-to-1
600	2016	$87,504	150-to-1
436	2015	$94,677	163-to-1
575	2014	$86,435	130-to-1
598	2013	$84,093	144-to-1