How much does a special education teacher make in Chicago?
$74,180a year
Median yearly pay for special education teachers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $35.66 an hour or $6,182 a month.
- Hourly
- $35.66
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 56 of 107
- Jobs in the area
- 1,550
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $49,550Median: $74,180Highest 10%: $103,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,550 | $23.82 | |
| 25th | $60,990 | $29.32 | |
| Median | $74,180 | $35.66 | |
| 75th | $83,760 | $40.27 | |
| 90th | $103,000 | $49.53 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for special education teachers.
| Springfield, IL | $59,450 |
| St. Louis, MO | $56,320 |
| Peoria, IL | $51,410 |
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 $35.66 ($74,180 a year).
Do special education teachers make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $74,180 against $76,580 nationally, 3% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $64,850, so Chicago pays 14% more.
Where does Chicago rank for special education teacher pay?
56 of 107 metro areas with data.
How much does a special education teacher make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $49,550 or less a year; the top 10% make $103,000 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.