Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Chicago, IL
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $98,970 a year — 37% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,701 take-home, or $6,142 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,943
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,136
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,435
- Illinois income tax$4,754
- Take-home pay$73,701
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 →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,380 | $29.03 | $47,851 | $3,988 |
| 25th percentile | $76,440 | $36.75 | $58,967 | $4,914 |
| Median (50th) | $98,970 | $47.58 | $73,701 | $6,142 |
| 75th percentile | $126,420 | $60.78 | $91,561 | $7,630 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,600 | $67.60 | $100,551 | $8,379 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $98,970 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $73,701 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,144 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.06).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Chicago, IL?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $98,970 a year, or about $47.58 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $76,440 and $126,420.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $98,970 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $73,701 a year ($6,142 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,754 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 37% above the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,144 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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) — 25% of a median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary — $101,010
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary — $93,670
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School — $82,350
- 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