Elementary School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 72 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes North Chicago, Crystal Lake, Aurora, Palatine, Waukegan.
Also listed as: Elementary Bilingual Teacher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $48,047 |
| 25th | $50,303 |
| 50th (median) | $61,990 |
| 75th | $69,659 |
| 90th | $82,642 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $43,167 | $41,553 | $46,820 | 14 |
| FY2021 | $46,820 | $44,115 | $64,612 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $59,894 | $45,660 | $69,553 | 25 |
| FY2023 | $56,503 | $49,027 | $61,232 | 24 |
| FY2024 | $61,990 | $48,040 | $76,258 | 33 |
| FY2025 | $59,834 | $50,303 | $68,919 | 46 |
| FY2026 | $66,502 | $54,867 | $71,288 | 26 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median Elementary School Teacher salary of $61,990 is worth about $59,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $78,390 in May 2025 (45,840 employed). The H-1B median here is $61,990, 21% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Public Schools | $70,327 | 18 |
| North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 | $52,487 | 15 |
| Lycee Francais De Chicago | too few | 6 |
| Aurora East School District 131 | too few | 4 |
| Crystal Lake Community Consolidated School District 47 | too few | 4 |
| Community Consolidated School District 15 | too few | 2 |
| DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 | too few | 2 |
| German School Chicago, NFP | too few | 2 |
| Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 | too few | 2 |
| Woodstock Community Unit School District 200 | 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 | $50,880 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $50,877 | $50,880 | 13 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.