Special Education Teachers, Secondary School Salary in Chicago, IL
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $82,350 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,832 take-home, or $5,236 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special education teachers, secondary school salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,287
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,106
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,194
- Illinois income tax$3,932
- Take-home pay$62,832
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, Secondary School pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,540 | $29.11 | $47,972 | $3,998 |
| 25th percentile | $74,090 | $35.62 | $57,430 | $4,786 |
| Median (50th) | $82,350 | $39.59 | $62,832 | $5,236 |
| 75th percentile | $104,990 | $50.48 | $77,638 | $6,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,530 | $63.24 | $94,801 | $7,900 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,350 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, secondary school's $62,832 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,651 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 1.6× the national concentration of special education teachers, secondary school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $100,430 | $74,597 | $66,272 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $100,900 | $73,347 | $64,586 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $87,630 | $66,316 | $61,253 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $79,760 | $62,493 | $60,936 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $82,350 | $62,832 | $60,651 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $77,180 | $59,743 | $59,709 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $85,000 | $64,371 | $59,119 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,190 | $60,679 | $57,887 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: special education teachers, secondary school
Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary 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
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, secondary school make in Chicago, IL?
The median special education teachers, secondary school salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $82,350 a year, or about $39.59 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $74,090 and $104,990.
What is a special education teachers, secondary school’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $82,350 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $62,832 a year ($5,236 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,932 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a special education teachers, secondary school?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $74,260. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,651 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special education teachers, secondary 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) — 29% of a median special education teachers, secondary 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
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — $80,440
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,690
- 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