Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago, IL
Education Administrators, Postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $101,070 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $75,075 take-home, or $6,256 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median education administrators, postsecondary salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,405
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,266
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,466
- Illinois income tax$4,858
- Take-home pay$75,075
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,410 | $30.00 | $49,382 | $4,115 |
| 25th percentile | $77,270 | $37.15 | $59,509 | $4,959 |
| Median (50th) | $101,070 | $48.59 | $75,075 | $6,256 |
| 75th percentile | $129,290 | $62.16 | $93,381 | $7,782 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,420 | $82.89 | $120,725 | $10,060 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $101,070 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median education administrators, postsecondary's $75,075 take-home pay has the buying power of $72,469 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.2× the national concentration of education administrators, postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $125,190 | $96,833 | $98,743 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $137,800 | $98,362 | $87,384 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $131,130 | $94,557 | $87,338 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,980 | $88,207 | $86,010 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $105,700 | $83,190 | $84,346 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $125,460 | $89,322 | $82,034 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $102,990 | $81,283 | $78,847 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,230 | $87,816 | $77,326 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $101,070 | $75,075 | $72,469 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: education administrators, postsecondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education administrators, postsecondary make in Chicago, IL?
The median education administrators, postsecondary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $101,070 a year, or about $48.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,270 and $129,290.
What is a education administrators, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $101,070 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $75,075 a year ($6,256 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,858 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a education administrators, postsecondary?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $104,590. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $72,469 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a education administrators, postsecondary afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median education administrators, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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