Entry-level High School Teacher salary in Chicago, IL
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $55,000 |
| 25th | $57,096 |
| 50th (median) | $60,580 |
| 75th | $65,223 |
| 90th | $70,093 |
Cost of living
Chicago's median entry-level High School Teacher salary of $60,580 is worth about $58,500 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 $60,580, 39% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| East Aurora School District 131 | too few | 7 |
| DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 | too few | 2 |
| Lake Forest Academy | too few | 2 |
| Lycee Francais De Chicago | 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.