Special Education Teachers, Middle School Salary in Chicago, IL
Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $77,840 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $59,882 take-home, or $4,990 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, middle school salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$8,295
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,826
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,129
- Illinois income tax$3,708
- Take-home pay$59,882
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, Middle School pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,020 | $26.93 | $44,564 | $3,714 |
| 25th percentile | $62,390 | $30.00 | $49,367 | $4,114 |
| Median (50th) | $77,840 | $37.42 | $59,882 | $4,990 |
| 75th percentile | $97,150 | $46.71 | $72,511 | $6,043 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,180 | $50.57 | $77,763 | $6,480 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $77,840 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, middle school's $59,882 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,804 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, middle school, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland, OH | $79,890 | $63,618 | $67,734 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $94,740 | $70,930 | $63,014 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $78,860 | $61,887 | $60,346 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $77,840 | $59,882 | $57,804 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $77,050 | $59,454 | $54,603 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $65,870 | $55,107 | $53,455 |
*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: special education teachers, middle school
Teach academic, social, and life skills to middle school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities.
- 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, middle school make in Chicago, IL?
The median special education teachers, middle school salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,840 a year, or about $37.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,390 and $97,150.
What is a special education teachers, middle school’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $77,840 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $59,882 a year ($4,990 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,708 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a special education teachers, middle school?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $66,810. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,804 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 6 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, middle 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) — 31% of a median special education teachers, middle school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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