Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Chicago, IL
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $78,390 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $60,242 take-home, or $5,020 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,416
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,860
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,137
- Illinois income tax$3,736
- Take-home pay$60,242
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,960 | $23.54 | $39,241 | $3,270 |
| 25th percentile | $60,630 | $29.15 | $48,040 | $4,003 |
| Median (50th) | $78,390 | $37.69 | $60,242 | $5,020 |
| 75th percentile | $102,430 | $49.25 | $75,964 | $6,330 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,250 | $50.60 | $77,808 | $6,484 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $78,390 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $60,242 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,151 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #37 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
| 37 | Chicago, IL | $78,390 | $60,242 | $58,151 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Chicago, IL?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $78,390 a year, or about $37.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $60,630 and $102,430.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $78,390 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $60,242 a year ($5,020 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,736 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,151 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #37 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education 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 elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,010
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,970
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $93,670
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $82,350
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — $80,440
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,690
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $78,000
- Instructional Coordinator — $77,900
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School — $77,840
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education — $70,250
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $66,250
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary — $63,100