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.
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 #62 of 69 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansing, MI | $158,720 | $113,256 | $119,228 |
| 2 | Ann Arbor, MI | $144,340 | $104,039 | $103,131 |
| 3 | Rochester, NY | $139,640 | $99,511 | $102,552 |
| 4 | Austin, TX | $125,190 | $96,833 | $98,743 |
| 5 | Syracuse, NY | $130,200 | $93,616 | $97,780 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $154,140 | $104,511 | $94,646 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $126,850 | $91,488 | $93,491 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $128,620 | $93,125 | $93,071 |
| 62 | 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 69 metros →
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 #62 of 69 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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