Art and Music Professor salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Dekalb, University Park.
Also listed as: Assistant Professor of Music, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,643 |
| 25th | $70,000 |
| 50th (median) | $74,600 |
| 75th | $86,700 |
| 90th | $91,600 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Art and Music Professor salary of $74,600 is worth about $72,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $62,960 in May 2025 (2,950 employed). The H-1B median here is $74,600, 18% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Illinois University | too few | 3 |
| The School of the Art Institute of Chicago | too few | 3 |
| The University of Chicago | too few | 2 |
| Western Governors University | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.