Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Special Education Teachers, Middle School in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $77,840 a year, based on BLS data for 3,190 workers.
Pay ranges from $56,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,180 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $66,810. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $74,730. There are 0.71 special education teachers, middle school per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $79,540, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for special education teachers, middle school in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $56,020 |
| 25th percentile | $62,390 |
| Median | $77,840 |
| 75th percentile | $97,150 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $105,180 |
| Average (mean) | $79,540 |
Half of special education teachers, middle school earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $6,486.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,243.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,993.85 |
| Weekly | $1,496.92 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because special education teachers, middle school are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $77,840 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Special Education Teachers, Middle School salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford, IL | $75,540 | 140 |
| Springfield, IL | $74,590 | 110 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $64,090 | 820 |
| Bloomington, IL | $64,060 | 30 |
| Decatur, IL | $63,520 | 50 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $62,820 | 140 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $62,140 | 100 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $61,780 | 310 |
| Peoria, IL | $61,260 | 150 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $60,230 | 320 |
| Evansville, IN | $59,310 | 80 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $59,040 | 40 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $58,850 | 340 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $58,580 | 70 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $58,150 | 50 |
| Kankakee, IL | $57,620 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for special education teachers, middle school
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $101,530 |
| Washington | $99,520 |
| Rhode Island | $93,970 |
| New York | $93,820 |
| Connecticut | $92,900 |
| Massachusetts | $84,550 |
| Alaska | $81,000 |
| District of Columbia | $79,170 |
| New Jersey | $79,110 |
| Utah | $78,920 |
See Special Education Teachers, Middle School pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
More: Educational Instruction and Library Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 25-2057. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special education teachers, middle school make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for special education teachers, middle school in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,840 a year. Pay ranges from $56,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $105,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid special education teachers, middle school make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of special education teachers, middle school in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $105,180 a year. The top 25% earn $97,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for special education teachers, middle school in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $56,020 a year, and a quarter of special education teachers, middle school earn $62,390 or less.
How many special education teachers, middle school work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,190 special education teachers, middle school are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.