Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,530 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, secondary school in Chicago earn between $74,090 and $104,990.
- $61K10th
- $74K25th
- $82KMedian
- $105K75th
- $132K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $91,740 | $7,645 | — |
| Median | $82,350 | $6,862 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $74,090 | $6,174 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $104,990 | $8,749 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Special education teachers, secondary school in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($86,150) and 19% more than the U.S. average ($77,260). At the median the gap is +11% against the U.S. median of $74,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $91,740 | $82,350 | $60,540 | $131,530 | 7,360 |
| Illinois | $86,150 | $79,890 | $49,920 | $129,260 | 9,490 |
| United States | $77,260 | $74,260 | $49,800 | $109,100 | 163,930 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $91,740, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $68,969 a year, or $5,747 a month and $2,653 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 | $70,647 | $5,887 |
| Working in IL | $68,969 | $5,747 |
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, secondary 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 $91,740 buys what about $88,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$91,740
- Rockford$73,060
- Springfield$71,860
- Decatur$69,970
- Bloomington$67,430
- Champaign$65,200
- Kankakee$64,890
- Peoria$62,210
All Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, secondary school
San Diego, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($121,230).
- San Diego, CA$121,230
- San Jose, CA$110,740
- San Francisco, CA$106,980
- Mount Vernon, WA$105,910
- Riverside, CA$105,440
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Special Education Teachers, Secondary School salary in Chicago: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, secondary school salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $74,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, secondary school take-home pay in Chicago?
About $68,969 a year ($5,747 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $91,740.
Do special education teachers, secondary school earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% more than the U.S. average for this job ($77,260).
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 25-2058; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 1.55, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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