Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School Salary in Chicago, IL
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $79,690 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $61,092 take-home, or $5,091 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,702
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,941
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,156
- Illinois income tax$3,800
- Take-home pay$61,092
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 →
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $53,010 | $25.49 | $42,294 | $3,525 |
| 25th percentile | $62,300 | $29.95 | $49,299 | $4,108 |
| Median (50th) | $79,690 | $38.31 | $61,092 | $5,091 |
| 75th percentile | $100,640 | $48.38 | $74,793 | $6,233 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $104,490 | $50.24 | $77,311 | $6,443 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $79,690 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school's $61,092 take-home pay has the buying power of $58,972 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 1.5× the national concentration of special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $97,410 | $72,707 | $67,156 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $105,290 | $75,970 | $65,711 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $91,840 | $67,934 | $63,823 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $96,970 | $70,999 | $62,518 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $91,610 | $68,913 | $61,222 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,960 | $60,252 | $60,217 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $64,000 | $53,604 | $59,618 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $79,690 | $61,092 | $58,972 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
- 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 special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school make in Chicago, IL?
The median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $79,690 a year, or about $38.31 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,300 and $100,640.
What is a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $79,690 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $61,092 a year ($5,091 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,800 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $65,120. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $58,972 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #8 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school 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) — 30% of a median special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- 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
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education — $78,390
- 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