How much does a special education teacher make in Chicago?
$82,350a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $39.59 an hour or $6,863 a month.
- Hourly
- $39.59
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 40 of 314
- Jobs in the area
- 7,360
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $60,540Median: $82,350Highest 10%: $131,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,540 | $29.11 | |
| 25th | $74,090 | $35.62 | |
| Median | $82,350 | $39.59 | |
| 75th | $105,000 | $50.48 | |
| 90th | $131,500 | $63.24 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| Rockford, IL | $78,070 |
| Decatur, IL | $62,980 |
| Kankakee, IL | $62,610 |
| Bloomington, IL | $62,280 |
| Champaign, IL | $61,930 |
| Davenport, IA | $61,710 |
| Springfield, IL | $61,350 |
| St. Louis, MO | $61,160 |
| Paducah, KY | $59,410 |
| Peoria, IL | $58,460 |
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 $39.59 ($82,350 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in Chicago than the national average?
Yes: $82,350 against $74,260 nationally, 11% more.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $79,890, so Chicago pays 3% more.
Where does Chicago rank for special education teacher pay?
40 of 314 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $60,540 or less a year; the top 10% make $131,500 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.