Economics Teachers, Postsecondary pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,010 a year or less, while the top 10% make $201,210 or more. The middle half of economics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago earn between $80,250 and $165,470.
- $59K10th
- $80K25th
- $124KMedian
- $165K75th
- $201K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,370 | $10,364 | — |
| Median | $124,360 | $10,363 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,250 | $6,688 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $165,470 | $13,789 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Economics teachers, postsecondary in Chicago earn 3% less than the Illinois average ($128,760) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($138,850). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $123,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $124,370 | $124,360 | $59,010 | $201,210 | 260 |
| Illinois | $128,760 | $124,850 | $59,090 | $202,490 | 460 |
| United States | $138,850 | $123,920 | $64,060 | $224,200 | 11,560 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $124,370, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $90,258 a year, or $7,521 a month and $3,471 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $92,572 | $7,714 |
| Working in IL | $90,258 | $7,521 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for economics teachers, postsecondary? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $124,370 buys what about $120,054 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$112,090
- Ann Arbor, MI$234,120
- Detroit, MI$108,760
- Columbus, OH$125,730
- Lexington, KY$205,000
- Cleveland, OH$109,690
Highest-paying cities for economics teachers, postsecondary
Ann Arbor, MI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($234,120).
- Ann Arbor, MI$234,120
- Boston, MA$206,420
- Lexington, KY$205,000
- College Station, TX$190,330
- Santa Maria, CA$182,030
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Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary in Chicago: questions
What is the entry-level economics teachers, postsecondary salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,010 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economics teachers, postsecondary take-home pay in Chicago?
About $90,258 a year ($7,521 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,370.
Do economics teachers, postsecondary earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($138,850).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-1063; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.77, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.77).
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