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Preschool Teachers salary in Chicago, IL

Preschool Teachers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metropolitan area earn a median of $43,050 a year, an average of $45,740. About 17,180 people work in this occupation there. Figures are from the May 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS).

Preschool Teachers pay at a glance

Annual median wage
$43,050
Half earn more, half earn less
Annual mean wage
$45,740
Pulled up by top earners
10th percentile
$36,650
Bottom of the range
90th percentile
$61,120
Top of the range
People employed
17,180
In Chicago metro area
Rent share of median wage
38.5%
Median rent ÷ median wage

What this wage buys in Chicago

Rent from the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates, compared with the wage above

Median gross rent
$1,380
per month, in Chicago, IL
Income needed for median rent
$55,200
Keeps rent at 30% of gross pay
Median preschool teachers wage
$43,050
22.0% below income needed for median rent
Rent as share of this wage
38.5%
12 months rent ÷ median wage
City median household income
$75,134
All households, not one occupation

Occupations are not paid the same everywhere, and this page does not explain why. It reports what the survey measured for the Chicago area. Read the Chicago, IL cost of living page for rent, income and the price level, or the methodology for how the numbers are compiled.

Preschool Teachers pay in other cities

Median annual wage, same occupation, same survey

Houston, TX
-21.3%
Median $33,860
Mean $36,610
Employed 11,000
Phoenix, AZ
-15.2%
Median $36,500
Mean $39,350
Employed 6,880
Philadelphia, PA
-14.6%
Median $36,750
Mean $41,250
Employed 15,260
Los Angeles, CA
+8.2%
Median $46,600
Mean $50,550
Employed 18,430
San Antonio, TX
-20.5%
Median $34,210
Mean $37,660
Employed 3,450
San Diego, CA
+4.4%
Median $44,940
Mean $47,090
Employed 5,130
Dallas, TX
-18.3%
Median $35,190
Mean $36,510
Employed 11,100
San Jose, CA
+18.9%
Median $51,190
Mean $55,510
Employed 3,570

See preschool teachers pay in every covered city.

Take-home pay calculator

Estimate your net pay after federal, state, and FICA taxes. Adjust filing status and allowances for your situation.

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Gross annual income $43,050 / year
$43,050
Federal income tax 2024 brackets, Single filing
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State income tax Illinois (IL)
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FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.65% up to wage base
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Pre-tax deductions 401(k), HSA, etc.
$0
Take-home pay (annual) After all taxes
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Take-home per paycheck Monthly
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Effective tax rate Total tax ÷ gross income
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Estimates use 2024 federal tax brackets, FICA rates (6.2% SS up to $168,600, 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% >$200k), and state rates from Tax Foundation. Does not include local taxes, AMT, or tax credits. Consult a tax professional for actual liability.

Definitions used on this page

Annual median wage
The wage that half of the people in this occupation earn more than and half earn less than, for one year of work.
Annual mean wage
The average of all reported wages. It is higher than the median when a few very high earners pull it up.
Percentiles
The 10th percentile is the wage below which 10% of workers fall; the 90th is the wage above which only 10% rise. The gap between them shows how wide the pay range is.
Employment
The estimated number of jobs in this occupation in the metropolitan area, not the number of residents who hold it.

Sources and limits

Wages describe the metropolitan area, while rent and income describe the city boundaries. The two areas do not cover exactly the same ground. Wages are also averaged across a year and across every industry, so a specific employer can differ widely from the median shown here.