Elementary School Teachers salary in Chicago, IL
Median pay for elementary school teachers in Chicago, IL: $68,280/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $49,190 – $101,500 · about 45,760 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($62,430) by +$5,850 (+9%).
What it's really worth in Chicago
With Chicago's cost of living at 102 (US=100), that $68,280 has the buying power of about $66,624 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $85,087 · median home $353,998 · median rent $2,266/mo.
How Chicago ranks for this job
On raw pay, Chicago, IL is 54th of the 187 metros we hold elementary school teachers wages for. Once Chicago's cost of living is applied, it ranks 87th.
The headline number flatters Chicago. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, elementary school teachers here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Chicago
A median home in Chicago, IL costs $353,998 — about 5.2× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is harder here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $2,266/mo works out at 40% of gross pay — above the conventional 30% affordability ceiling, so renting would stretch this salary.
Where elementary school teachers earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Chicago.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Chicago | Rent vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | $105,090 | +54% | 0.9× |
| San Francisco, CA | $103,440 | +51% | 1.4× |
| Oxnard, CA | $103,350 | +51% | 1.3× |
| Modesto, CA | $101,210 | +48% | 0.9× |
Same job elsewhere in IL
| Metro | Median pay | vs Chicago | Rent vs Chicago |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $66,360 | −3% | 0.6× |
| Peoria, IL | $58,850 | −14% | 0.5× |
Staying in IL keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires elementary school teachers around Chicago
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- U.S. Federal Government (IL) · Government
- Chicago Public Schools · Education
- City of Chicago · Government
Other jobs in Chicago
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 187 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.