Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary Salary in Chicago, IL
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $128,780 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,057 take-home, or $7,755 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,641
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,984
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,867
- Illinois income tax$6,230
- Take-home pay$93,057
Marginal rate: 24% 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, Kindergarten through Secondary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $79,680 | $38.31 | $61,086 | $5,090 |
| 25th percentile | $100,250 | $48.20 | $74,538 | $6,212 |
| Median (50th) | $128,780 | $61.91 | $93,057 | $7,755 |
| 75th percentile | $137,200 | $65.96 | $98,396 | $8,200 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,540 | $82.47 | $120,167 | $10,014 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,780 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, kindergarten through secondary's $93,057 take-home pay has the buying power of $89,828 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for education administrators, kindergarten through secondary, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 28 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $174,260 | $130,373 | $117,312 |
| 2 | Riverside, CA | $161,380 | $108,693 | $102,114 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $163,210 | $114,231 | $101,482 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $163,200 | $109,744 | $98,084 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $161,590 | $108,814 | $95,815 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $160,820 | $108,369 | $93,734 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $129,130 | $95,562 | $93,182 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $131,880 | $95,441 | $91,343 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $128,780 | $93,057 | $89,828 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 28 metros →
About the job: education administrators, kindergarten through secondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate the academic, administrative, or auxiliary activities of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary schools.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- 5 years or more
- 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 education administrators, kindergarten through secondary make in Chicago, IL?
The median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $128,780 a year, or about $61.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $100,250 and $137,200.
What is a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $128,780 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $93,057 a year ($7,755 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,230 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $105,870. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $89,828 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 28 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a education administrators, kindergarten through secondary 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) — 20% of a median education administrators, kindergarten through secondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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