High school teacher pay in Chicago, IL
High school teachers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a typical $98,970 a year. The middle half earn $76,440 to $126,420, and the top 10% earn more than $140,600. About 32,790 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, SOC 25-2031).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $60,380 |
| 25th percentile | $76,440 |
| Median (typical) | $98,970 |
| 75th percentile | $126,420 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $140,600 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 9 of 50 large metros for high school teachers before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $98,970, a single filer keeps about $73,700 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and Illinois state income tax. Prices in Chicago are 4% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $71,100 would in a typical US city. That ranks Chicago No. 4 of 50 large metros for high school teachers after cost of living.
Where high school teachers’ pay goes furthest
- Seattle, WA$102,670 typical · worth $73k
- Sacramento, CA$105,060 typical · worth $72.4k
- San Jose, CA$108,230 typical · worth $71.7k
- Riverside, CA$100,130 typical · worth $69.7k
All 50 metros for high school teachers →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a high school teacher make in Chicago, IL?
The typical (median) high school teacher in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earns $98,970 a year. The middle half earn between $76,440 and $126,420, and the top 10% earn more than $140,600. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a high school teacher in Chicago?
Anything above $98,970 pays more than half of high school teachers in Chicago. $126,420 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $140,600 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a high school teacher in Chicago take home after taxes?
At the typical $98,970, a single filer keeps about $73,700 a year ($6,140 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, Illinois state income tax. With local prices 4% above the US average, that buys what $71,100 would in a typical US city.
Where do high school teachers get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical high school teacher pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in Seattle, WA, Sacramento, CA, San Jose, CA. Chicago, IL ranks No. 4.
More: High school teacher pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in Chicago, IL
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.