Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare Salary in Chicago, IL
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $59,150 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,924 take-home, or $3,910 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,918
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,667
- Medicare (1.45%)$858
- Illinois income tax$2,783
- Take-home pay$46,924
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 →
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,700 | $21.01 | $35,275 | $2,940 |
| 25th percentile | $44,930 | $21.60 | $36,202 | $3,017 |
| Median (50th) | $59,150 | $28.44 | $46,924 | $3,910 |
| 75th percentile | $73,680 | $35.42 | $57,162 | $4,763 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,500 | $37.74 | $60,314 | $5,026 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $59,150 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 and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare's $46,924 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,296 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 and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $98,470 | $73,334 | $65,149 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $67,140 | $53,031 | $46,696 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,960 | $47,744 | $46,555 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $59,150 | $46,924 | $45,296 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
About the job: education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare
Plan, direct, or coordinate academic or nonacademic activities of preschools or childcare centers and programs, including before- and after-school care.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -3.1% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare make in Chicago, IL?
The median education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $59,150 a year, or about $28.44 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,930 and $73,680.
What is a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $59,150 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $46,924 a year ($3,910 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,783 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $59,300. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,296 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare 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) — 39% of a median education and childcare administrators, preschool and daycare’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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