Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Chicago, IL
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $78,000 a year — 21% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,987 take-home, or $4,999 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,330
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,836
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,131
- Illinois income tax$3,716
- Take-home pay$59,987
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 →
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,530 | $24.29 | $40,424 | $3,369 |
| 25th percentile | $61,630 | $29.63 | $48,794 | $4,066 |
| Median (50th) | $78,000 | $37.50 | $59,987 | $4,999 |
| 75th percentile | $100,610 | $48.37 | $74,774 | $6,231 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,620 | $57.99 | $87,860 | $7,322 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,000 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 middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $59,987 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,905 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 50 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,560 | $80,981 | $72,869 |
| 2 | Buffalo, NY | $89,950 | $67,843 | $70,785 |
| 3 | Hartford, CT | $96,030 | $72,680 | $70,738 |
| 4 | Bridgeport, CT | $99,360 | $74,840 | $70,033 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $84,800 | $65,883 | $69,592 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $100,810 | $73,294 | $68,858 |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $105,030 | $75,815 | $68,659 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $80,580 | $64,084 | $68,231 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $78,000 | $59,987 | $57,905 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 50 metros →
About the job: middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the middle, intermediate, or junior high school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Chicago, IL?
The median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,000 a year, or about $37.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $61,630 and $100,610.
What is a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $78,000 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,987 a year ($4,999 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,716 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 21% above the national median of $64,370. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,905 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 50 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education 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) — 31% of a median middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,010
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,970
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $93,670
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $82,350
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — $80,440
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,690
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,390
- Instructional Coordinator — $77,900
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $77,840
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $70,250
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $66,250
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary — $63,100