Entry-level Elementary School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $45,622 |
| 25th | $50,190 |
| 50th (median) | $50,880 |
| 75th | $52,000 |
| 90th | $60,200 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level Elementary School Teacher salary of $50,880 is worth about $49,100 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 $50,880, 35% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 | too few | 2 |
| German School Chicago, NFP | 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.