How much does a special education teacher make in Chicago?
$79,690a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $38.31 an hour or $6,641 a month.
- Hourly
- $38.31
- Vs. national median
- +22%
- Rank among cities
- 49 of 335
- Jobs in the area
- 11,210
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $53,010Median: $79,690Highest 10%: $104,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $53,010 | $25.49 | |
| 25th | $62,300 | $29.95 | |
| Median | $79,690 | $38.31 | |
| 75th | $100,600 | $48.38 | |
| 90th | $104,500 | $50.24 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| Springfield, IL | $77,430 |
| Rockford, IL | $72,910 |
| Bloomington, IL | $64,250 |
| St. Louis, MO | $63,190 |
| Champaign, IL | $62,320 |
| Kankakee, IL | $61,420 |
| Davenport, IA | $61,240 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,200 |
| Paducah, KY | $49,110 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Economics Teacher | $124,400 |
| Engineering Teacher | $110,300 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teacher | $105,400 |
| Architecture Teacher | $104,400 |
| Geography Teacher | $103,300 |
| Biological Science Teacher | $102,000 |
| Law Teacher | $101,800 |
| Health Specialties Teacher | $101,000 |
| Area | $100,800 |
| Political Science Teacher | $100,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teacher make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $38.31 ($79,690 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $79,690 against $65,120 nationally, 22% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $77,960, so Chicago pays 2% more.
Where does Chicago rank for special education teacher pay?
49 of 335 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $53,010 or less a year; the top 10% make $104,500 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.