School Psychologists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,120 or more. The middle half of school psychologists in Chicago earn between $78,750 and $110,820.
- $66K10th
- $79K25th
- $91KMedian
- $111K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $98,120 | $8,177 | $47.17 |
| Median | $90,620 | $7,552 | $43.57 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,750 | $6,562 | $37.86 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,820 | $9,235 | $53.28 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
School Psychologists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
School psychologists in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($93,700) and about the same as the U.S. average ($99,160). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $95,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $98,120 | $90,620 | $65,610 | $131,120 | 2,770 |
| Illinois | $93,700 | $84,690 | $62,620 | $127,640 | 3,590 |
| United States | $99,160 | $95,990 | $63,070 | $142,330 | 63,940 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
School Psychologists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $98,120, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $73,142 a year, or $6,095 a month and $2,813 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 | $74,944 | $6,245 |
| Working in IL | $73,142 | $6,095 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for school psychologists? 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 $98,120 buys what about $94,715 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
School Psychologists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 6 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$98,120
- Springfield$89,510
- Rockford$83,740
- Bloomington$81,020
- Peoria$74,980
- Champaign$71,870
Highest-paying cities for school psychologists
Boulder, CO pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($142,700).
- Boulder, CO$142,700
- El Centro, CA$141,360
- San Jose, CA$137,350
- San Francisco, CA$135,970
- Riverside, CA$135,230
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School Psychologists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do school psychologists make an hour in Chicago?
$47.17 an hour on average, and $43.57 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level school psychologists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the school psychologists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $73,142 a year ($6,095 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $98,120.
Do school psychologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($99,160).
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 19-3034; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 1.49, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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