Communications Teachers, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago, IL
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $76,730 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,156 take-home, or $4,930 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median communications teachers, postsecondary salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,051
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,757
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,113
- Illinois income tax$3,653
- Take-home pay$59,156
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.
Communications Teachers, Postsecondary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,960 | $22.58 | $37,733 | $3,144 |
| 25th percentile | $48,830 | $23.48 | $39,143 | $3,262 |
| Median (50th) | $76,730 | $36.89 | $59,156 | $4,930 |
| 75th percentile | $99,900 | $48.03 | $74,309 | $6,192 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,800 | $50.87 | $78,168 | $6,514 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $76,730 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 communications teachers, postsecondary's $59,156 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,103 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 communications teachers, postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for communications teachers, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 10 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $130,160 | $90,663 | $79,833 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $79,710 | $64,906 | $66,186 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $78,310 | $63,921 | $64,810 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $97,760 | $72,877 | $64,743 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $77,050 | $63,035 | $61,145 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,870 | $62,567 | $61,008 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $83,810 | $63,635 | $58,443 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $80,890 | $61,912 | $57,185 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $76,730 | $59,156 | $57,103 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 10 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a communications teachers, postsecondary make in Chicago, IL?
The median communications teachers, postsecondary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $76,730 a year, or about $36.89 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,830 and $99,900.
What is a communications teachers, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $76,730 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,156 a year ($4,930 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,653 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a communications teachers, postsecondary?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $78,580. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,103 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 10 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a communications 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) — 31% of a median communications teachers, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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