Salary report · Chicago, IL

What is the average Teacher salary in Chicago, IL?

Teachers in Chicago earn a median of $67,500 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $48,600 (25th percentile) to $104,600 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$48,600
Median
$67,500
75th percentile
$86,400
90th percentile
$104,600
YoY change
+4.3%

Teacher salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$43,900
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$67,500
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$86,400
Lead · 8+ yrs
$97,900

How Chicago pay compares

Chicago median$67,500
National median$63,680
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 107)$63,100

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$57K
2022
$60K
2023
$62K
2024
$65K
2025
$68K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 4.3%.

Teacher job market in Chicago

Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.

An estimated 9,400 teachers work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Plan and deliver lessons
  • Grade assignments
  • Meet with parents
  • Attend faculty meetings
  • Develop curriculum

Related job salaries in Chicago

Teacher salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Teacher make in Chicago, IL?+

Teachers in Chicago earn a median of $67,500 per year — about 6% above the national average of $63,680.

What's the entry-level Teacher salary in Chicago?+

Entry-level Teachers in Chicago typically earn around $43,900 per year. Salaries scale to about $97,900 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $67,500 a good Teacher salary in Chicago?+

$67,500 is the median, meaning half of Teachers in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $63,100 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Teacher pay growing in Chicago?+

Teacher salaries in Chicago grew about 4.3% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +1%.

Where do Teachers in Chicago get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Teacher salary in Chicago is around $104,600. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.

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