Tutor Salary in Chicago, IL
Tutors in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $38,100 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,052 take-home, or $2,588 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median tutor salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,392
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,362
- Medicare (1.45%)$552
- Illinois income tax$1,741
- Take-home pay$31,052
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 →
Tutor pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| Median (50th) | $38,100 | $18.32 | $31,052 | $2,588 |
| 75th percentile | $52,140 | $25.07 | $41,638 | $3,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $65,710 | $31.59 | $51,870 | $4,323 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,100 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 tutor's $31,052 take-home pay has the buying power of $29,975 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Tutor jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for tutors, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $64,710 | $51,159 | $47,253 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $56,200 | $45,031 | $43,097 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $48,180 | $39,015 | $38,992 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $48,730 | $39,577 | $36,348 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $47,050 | $38,501 | $34,410 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $48,340 | $39,443 | $34,116 |
| 7 | Sacramento, CA | $44,000 | $36,213 | $33,948 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $46,550 | $37,666 | $33,462 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $38,100 | $31,052 | $29,975 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: tutors
Instruct individual students or small groups of students in academic subjects to support formal class instruction or to prepare students for standardized or admissions tests.
- Typical education
- Some college, no 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 tutor make in Chicago, IL?
The median tutor salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38,100 a year, or about $18.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,200 and $52,140.
What is a tutor’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $38,100 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $31,052 a year ($2,588 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,741 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a tutor?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $43,350. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $29,975 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a tutor 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) — 59% of a median tutor’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
- 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
- Librarian and Media Collections Specialist — $66,250