Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Chicago, IL
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $43,050 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,784 take-home, or $2,899 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median preschool teachers, except special education salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,986
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,669
- Medicare (1.45%)$624
- Illinois income tax$1,986
- Take-home pay$34,784
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 →
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,650 | $17.62 | $29,959 | $2,497 |
| 25th percentile | $37,750 | $18.15 | $30,788 | $2,566 |
| Median (50th) | $43,050 | $20.70 | $34,784 | $2,899 |
| 75th percentile | $47,250 | $22.72 | $37,951 | $3,163 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,120 | $29.38 | $48,409 | $4,034 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,050 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 preschool teachers, except special education's $34,784 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,577 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 preschool teachers, except special education jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for preschool teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 39 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $51,190 | $41,525 | $37,605 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $53,810 | $43,439 | $37,573 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $50,230 | $40,424 | $35,913 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $45,680 | $37,582 | $35,528 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $46,380 | $39,446 | $35,495 |
| 6 | Riverside, CA | $46,010 | $37,721 | $35,438 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $43,960 | $35,969 | $34,314 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $46,030 | $37,084 | $34,252 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $43,050 | $34,784 | $33,577 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 39 metros →
About the job: preschool teachers, except special education
Instruct preschool-aged students, following curricula or lesson plans, in activities designed to promote social, physical, and intellectual growth.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.5% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a preschool teachers, except special education make in Chicago, IL?
The median preschool teachers, except special education salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $43,050 a year, or about $20.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,750 and $47,250.
What is a preschool teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $43,050 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $34,784 a year ($2,899 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,986 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a preschool teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $38,140. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,577 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #12 of 39 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a preschool 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) — 53% of a median preschool teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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