Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Chicago, IL
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $70,250 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $54,918 take-home, or $4,577 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median kindergarten teachers, except special education salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$6,625
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,356
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,019
- Illinois income tax$3,333
- Take-home pay$54,918
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 →
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $48,640 | $23.38 | $38,999 | $3,250 |
| 25th percentile | $59,630 | $28.67 | $47,286 | $3,940 |
| Median (50th) | $70,250 | $33.77 | $54,918 | $4,577 |
| 75th percentile | $91,080 | $43.79 | $68,541 | $5,712 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $106,510 | $51.21 | $78,632 | $6,553 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $70,250 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education's $54,918 take-home pay has the buying power of $53,012 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for kindergarten teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $101,580 | $80,292 | $72,248 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $75,690 | $58,772 | $58,738 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $77,200 | $59,547 | $54,688 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $77,400 | $59,698 | $53,035 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $70,250 | $54,918 | $53,012 |
| 6 | Miami, FL | $57,300 | $48,221 | $42,241 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 6 metros →
About the job: kindergarten teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to kindergarten students.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education make in Chicago, IL?
The median kindergarten teachers, except special education salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $70,250 a year, or about $33.77 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $59,630 and $91,080.
What is a kindergarten teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $70,250 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $54,918 a year ($4,577 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,333 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a kindergarten teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $62,680. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $53,012 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a kindergarten 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) — 34% of a median kindergarten teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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