Elementary School Teacher Salary in Chicago, IL
Elementary School Teachers in Chicago, IL earn a median of $47,000/year, ranging from $36,190 (25th percentile) to $75,200 (90th percentile). After Illinois state taxes (4.95%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 107), this is equivalent to $43,925 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Chicago, IL
Chicago Public Schools is the third-largest district in the country, with the surrounding suburbs in District 299 territory paying meaningfully more. Notable employers in this market include Chicago Public Schools, Evanston/Skokie District 65, and Oak Park Elementary District 97, plus the Noble and CICS charter networks. A 1BR in Logan Square or Lincoln Square runs around $1,700/mo and a 2BR in Rogers Park closer to $2,000/mo, while Pilsen and Avondale stay under that. The L and Metra together make a car genuinely optional. Illinois's 4.95 percent flat income tax is straightforward. CTU contracts after the 2012 and 2019 strikes set the pay floor for the metro, and dual-language Spanish endorsements move a candidate up the hiring list.
1Salary Distribution in Chicago, IL
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Chicago, IL Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL (current) | $47,000 | 107 | $43,925 |
| San Francisco, CA | $65,000 | 186 | $34,946 |
| New York, NY | $62,000 | 187 | $33,155 |
| Seattle, WA | $63,000 | 162 | $38,889 |
| Boston, MA | $57,000 | 162 | $35,185 |
| Austin, TX | $52,000 | 124 | $41,935 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Elementary School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL?
The median Elementary School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL is $47,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $36,190 and the 90th percentile is $75,200.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a Elementary School Teacher?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $47,000 Elementary School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL is equivalent to $43,925 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107, meaning it is 7% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Illinois is approximately 4.95%.
What is the Elementary School Teacher salary range in Chicago, IL?
In Chicago, IL, Elementary School Teachers earn between $36,190 (25th percentile) and $75,200 (90th percentile), with a median of $47,000 per year.
How many Elementary School Teacher jobs are there in Chicago, IL?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 87,500 Elementary School Teacher positions in the Chicago, IL metropolitan area.
What do Elementary School Teachers earn in Chicago, IL?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Elementary School Teachers in Chicago, IL earn a median annual wage of $47,000. The middle 50% earn between $36,190 and $60,160. The top 10% earn more than $75,200. There are approximately 87,500 Elementary School Teachers employed in the Chicago, IL metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 3.1%.
Is Chicago, IL a good place for a Elementary School Teacher?
Chicago, IL has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100), making it 7% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Elementary School Teacher in Chicago, IL earning $47,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $43,925 relative to the US median. Illinois has a state income tax rate of approximately 4.95%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Chicago, IL?
Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $47,000 in Chicago, ILhas the same purchasing power as $43,925 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Chicago, IL with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Elementary School Teacher in Chicago, IL?
The headline median of $47,000 is only part of the picture. Chicago, IL's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $47,000 salary effectively purchases $43,925 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Chicago, IL, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $47,000 salary, that translates to roughly $13,160/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Illinois levies a state income tax of approximately 4.95%, which reduces take-home by roughly $2,327 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $41,278. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($65,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($62,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($63,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 3.1% year-over-year growth rate for Elementary School Teachers in Chicago, IL is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Elementary School Teachers or the Illinois state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.