Health Education Specialists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,950 a year or less, while the top 10% make $110,350 or more. The middle half of health education specialists in Chicago earn between $48,590 and $77,100.
- $41K10th
- $49K25th
- $60KMedian
- $77K75th
- $110K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,690 | $5,724 | $33.02 |
| Median | $60,120 | $5,010 | $28.90 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,590 | $4,049 | $23.36 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,100 | $6,425 | $37.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Health Education Specialists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Health education specialists in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($68,730) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($73,280). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $64,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $68,690 | $60,120 | $40,950 | $110,350 | 690 |
| Illinois | $68,730 | $60,120 | $41,480 | $105,660 | 1,010 |
| United States | $73,280 | $64,070 | $42,990 | $118,200 | 65,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Health Education Specialists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $68,690, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $53,894 a year, or $4,491 a month and $2,073 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 | $55,123 | $4,594 |
| Working in IL | $53,894 | $4,491 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for health education specialists? 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 $68,690 buys what about $66,306 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Health Education Specialists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job; Springfield pays the most ($73,120).
- Springfield$73,120
- Chicago$68,690
Highest-paying cities for health education specialists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($120,000).
- Washington, DC$120,000
- Atlanta, GA$109,350
- San Francisco, CA$97,750
- Eugene, OR$96,470
- San Jose, CA$92,350
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Health Education Specialists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do health education specialists make an hour in Chicago?
$33.02 an hour on average, and $28.90 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level health education specialists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $40,950 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the health education specialists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $53,894 a year ($4,491 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,690.
Do health education specialists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($73,280).
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 21-1091; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.2%.
- 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 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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