High School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 41 certified H-1B filings in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Aurora, Waukegan, Lake Forest, Dekalb, Oak Park.
Also listed as: Secondary School Teacher, Math Teacher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,100 |
| 25th | $58,240 |
| 50th (median) | $66,539 |
| 75th | $80,099 |
| 90th | $95,479 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2022 | $66,918 | $61,668 | $72,653 | 14 |
| FY2023 | $60,942 | $52,752 | $73,871 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $64,120 | $61,990 | $66,366 | 23 |
| FY2025 | $64,193 | $57,693 | $80,099 | 28 |
| FY2026 | $72,213 | $64,425 | $80,342 | 13 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median High School Teacher salary of $66,539 is worth about $64,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chicago = 103.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Chicago, IL area earned a median of $98,970 in May 2025 (32,790 employed). The H-1B median here is $66,539, 33% 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 | $84,532 | 10 |
| East Aurora School District 131 | too few | 7 |
| Lycee Francais De Chicago | too few | 6 |
| Concept Schools Nfp | too few | 2 |
| DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 | too few | 2 |
| Lake Forest Academy | too few | 2 |
| Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 | 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 | $60,580 | 19 |
| 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 | $56,090 | $60,580 | 19 |
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.