Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,180 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, middle school in Chicago earn between $62,390 and $97,150.
- $56K10th
- $62K25th
- $78KMedian
- $97K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $79,540 | $6,628 | — |
| Median | $77,840 | $6,487 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,390 | $5,199 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,150 | $8,096 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only).
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $79,540, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $60,990 a year, or $5,083 a month and $2,346 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $62,430 | $5,203 |
| Working in IL | $60,990 | $5,083 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for special education teachers, middle school? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $79,540 buys what about $76,780 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$79,540
- Rockford$74,270
- Springfield$71,980
- Champaign$65,130
- Peoria$63,430
- Decatur$62,830
- Bloomington$62,240
- Kankakee$56,700
All Special Education Teachers, Middle School salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, middle school
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($112,040).
- San Jose, CA$112,040
- Bremerton, WA$104,860
- San Francisco, CA$104,470
- Seattle, WA$103,370
- Sacramento, CA$102,930
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Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in Chicago: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, middle school salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $56,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, middle school take-home pay in Chicago?
About $60,990 a year ($5,083 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $79,540.
Do special education teachers, middle school earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($75,948).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-2057; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.15, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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