SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Chicago
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · 7 metro areas compared
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Chicago, IL is $79,690 per year, 22.4% above the national median of $65,120.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Chicago, IL is $79,690 per year, 22.4% above the national median of $65,120. Half of workers earn between $62,300 and $100,640. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $53,010 and the ninetieth at $104,490.
The area has 11,210 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 2.5 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Springfield records the highest median at $77,430. Of the 716 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 248th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,010 | −18.6% |
| 25th | $62,300 | −4.3% |
| Median (50th) | $79,690 | +22.4% |
| 75th | $100,640 | +54.5% |
| 90th | $104,490 | +60.5% |
| Mean | $80,080 | +23.0% |
Other metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | $77,430 | 150 | |
| 2 | Rockford | $72,910 | 300 | |
| 3 | Decatur | $65,390 | 40 | |
| 4 | Bloomington | $64,250 | 270 | |
| 5 | Champaign | $62,320 | 160 | |
| 6 | Kankakee | $61,420 | 110 | |
| 7 | Peoria | $61,200 | 290 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Chicago sit close to the national average, so $79,690 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$79,690as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$79,690US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,690 a year, 22.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $53,010 to $104,490 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 11,210 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Springfield, at $77,430.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Chicago, IL?
The median annual wage is $79,690, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $65,120, so pay in Chicago, IL is 22.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Chicago, IL earns more than $104,490 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $53,010 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Springfield, at $77,430 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 11,210 jobs in this occupation in Chicago, IL. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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