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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
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 #14 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College Station, TX | $57,790 | $48,614 | $53,451 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $61,780 | $49,261 | $46,181 |
| 3 | Champaign, IL | $50,110 | $40,108 | $43,264 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $58,330 | $46,703 | $42,893 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $47,990 | $39,409 | $40,508 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $49,810 | $41,166 | $39,845 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $49,760 | $39,894 | $36,848 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $38,490 | $33,107 | $33,567 |
| 14 | 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 14 metros →
About the job: teaching assistants, postsecondary
Assist faculty or other instructional staff in postsecondary institutions by performing instructional support activities, such as developing teaching materials, leading discussion groups, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers. Graduate students who teach one or more full courses should be classified in the 25-1000 minor group.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 #14 of 14 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
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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
- 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
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