Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago, IL
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $63,100 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,902 take-home, or $4,159 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median career/technical education teachers, postsecondary salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,392
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,912
- Medicare (1.45%)$915
- Illinois income tax$2,979
- Take-home pay$49,902
Marginal rate: 12% 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 →
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,260 | $21.76 | $36,451 | $3,038 |
| 25th percentile | $50,970 | $24.50 | $40,756 | $3,396 |
| Median (50th) | $63,100 | $30.34 | $49,902 | $4,159 |
| 75th percentile | $99,080 | $47.63 | $73,773 | $6,148 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,830 | $59.53 | $89,919 | $7,493 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,100 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 career/technical education teachers, postsecondary's $49,902 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,170 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for career/technical education teachers, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $74,570 | $61,290 | $62,142 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $78,540 | $60,439 | $53,693 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $75,450 | $58,104 | $51,164 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $61,360 | $51,483 | $49,940 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $63,100 | $49,902 | $48,170 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $63,420 | $53,138 | $46,549 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: career/technical education teachers, postsecondary
Teach vocational courses intended to provide occupational training below the baccalaureate level in subjects such as construction, mechanics/repair, manufacturing, transportation, or cosmetology, primarily to students who have graduated from or left high school. Teaching takes place in public or private schools whose primary business is academic or vocational education. Flight instructors are included with "Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers" (53-2010).
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a career/technical education teachers, postsecondary make in Chicago, IL?
The median career/technical education teachers, postsecondary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $63,100 a year, or about $30.34 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,970 and $99,080.
What is a career/technical education teachers, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $63,100 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,902 a year ($4,159 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,979 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a career/technical education teachers, postsecondary?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $63,820. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,170 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a career/technical education teachers, 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) — 37% of a median career/technical education teachers, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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