Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary Salary in Chicago, IL
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $35,760 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $29,288 take-home, or $2,441 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,111
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,217
- Medicare (1.45%)$519
- Illinois income tax$1,625
- Take-home pay$29,288
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.
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,280 | $16.96 | $28,926 | $2,410 |
| 25th percentile | $35,310 | $16.98 | $28,949 | $2,412 |
| Median (50th) | $35,760 | $17.19 | $29,288 | $2,441 |
| 75th percentile | $48,240 | $23.19 | $38,698 | $3,225 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,850 | $46.56 | $72,315 | $6,026 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $35,760 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 teaching assistants, postsecondary's $29,288 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,271 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 1.9× the national concentration of teaching assistants, postsecondary jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for teaching assistants, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #46 of 51 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lubbock, TX | $64,160 | $53,733 | $58,842 |
| 2 | College Station, TX | $57,790 | $48,614 | $53,451 |
| 3 | Springfield, MO | $50,920 | $41,638 | $47,004 |
| 4 | Salt Lake City, UT | $57,930 | $47,086 | $46,681 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $46,181 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City, OK | $49,920 | $40,590 | $44,896 |
| 7 | Columbia, MO | $47,220 | $38,839 | $43,426 |
| 8 | Lansing, MI | $50,820 | $41,105 | $43,272 |
| 46 | Chicago, IL | $35,760 | $29,288 | $28,271 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 51 metros →
Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Champaign, IL — $50,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a teaching assistants, postsecondary make in Chicago, IL?
The median teaching assistants, postsecondary salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $35,760 a year, or about $17.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,310 and $48,240.
What is a teaching assistants, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $35,760 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $29,288 a year ($2,441 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,625 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a teaching assistants, postsecondary?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $42,910. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,271 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #46 of 51 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a teaching assistants, postsecondary 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) — 63% of a median teaching assistants, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,960
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,010
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary — $100,560
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education — $98,970
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School — $98,170
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $93,670
- History Teachers, Postsecondary — $88,360
- Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary — $85,120
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $82,350
- Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — $80,940
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary — $80,440
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — $79,690