Teacher Jobs in Chicago, IL
Chicago Public Schools alone employs more than 24,000 teachers across 600-plus schools, and a new teacher with a bachelor's degree starts at $69,730 on the 2026-27 union scale. Here are the current Chicago teaching openings, followed by who is hiring, what it pays and how to get licensed.
Current teacher Openings in Chicago, IL
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Teacher Work in Chicago
Most Chicago teaching jobs sit inside Chicago Public Schools, the district that hires through Teach Chicago and pays on the salary schedule in the 2024-28 contract the Chicago Teachers Union ratified in April 2025. Around it runs a large charter sector with its own hiring calendars: Noble's 17 schools, KIPP Chicago, Acero's eight schools, among them Brighton Park, the CICS campuses Distinctive Schools runs from Bucktown to Irving Park, and LEARN on the West and South Sides. The Archdiocese of Chicago adds 311 Catholic schools across Cook and Lake counties.
The openings that recur across Chicago postings are special education (CPS and the charters call it diverse learners), bilingual and ESL, and high school math and science. Distinctive Schools is offering sign-on bonuses for special education and bilingual support teachers this year, and KIPP Chicago's open 2026-27 roles include a Diverse Learners Teacher.
Top Chicago Employers Hiring Teachers
These employers have teaching roles posted or listed on their own careers pages:
- Chicago Public Schools - the city district, with 24,000-plus teachers and a paid residency for career changers.
- Noble Schools - a 17-school charter network hiring teachers in every subject, including special education.
- KIPP Chicago - the charter network has 2026-27 middle school content and diverse learners teacher openings.
- Distinctive Schools - runs CICS campuses such as Longwood, Prairie and Bucktown, with high school and K-8 openings.
- Acero Schools - an eight-school charter network hiring special education and bilingual teachers.
- Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic Schools - 311 schools in Cook and Lake counties hiring full- and part-time teachers.
Teacher Salaries in Chicago
- Entry level: about $55,000 to $70,000 a year; CPS starts a bachelor's-degree teacher at $69,730 in 2026-27.
- Experienced: roughly $78,000 to $100,000, the range of metro medians for elementary and high school teachers.
- Senior: $105,000 to $130,000 or more for veterans with a master's degree and added credits.
These are estimates built from the CTU salary schedule, charter postings and BLS May 2025 data for the Chicago metro. Pay moves with your degree lane and years of service on the CPS schedule, a master's adds about $4,800 at the first step, and high school teachers earn more than elementary teachers on average. Charter and Catholic schools set their own scales; KIPP Chicago, for example, has listed $55,000 to $116,000 for teachers.
How to Become a Teacher in Chicago
To teach in an Illinois public school you need a Professional Educator License from the Illinois State Board of Education. That means a bachelor's degree, an Illinois-approved educator preparation program with student teaching, and a passing score on the Illinois content test for each endorsement; the edTPA requirement is waived through September 1, 2029. Career changers can apply to the CPS Teacher Residency, which pays $40,000 plus benefits during the training year and runs with National Louis University. If you are starting from scratch, City Colleges of Chicago offers an Elementary Education AA at Harold Washington, Truman and Daley and a Special Education AA at all seven campuses for transfer to a four-year program.
What the Job Involves
Teachers plan lessons to state standards, deliver instruction to a full class, adjust it for students with IEPs and English learners, and grade and track progress. The day also includes parent contact, team and department meetings, hallway and lunch duties, and data reviews with coaches or administrators.
Skills Employers Look For
- A Professional Educator License with the right endorsement
- Classroom management and a consistent routine
- Experience with IEPs and differentiated instruction
- Spanish fluency for bilingual roles
- Comfort with student data and progress monitoring
- Clear communication with families
Career Path and Advancement
Many Chicago teachers start as substitutes, paraprofessionals or residents before taking a classroom of their own. On the CPS schedule, pay rises with each step and with each degree lane, so a master's degree or added endorsements in special education or ESL raise both pay and options. From the classroom the ladder runs to grade-level or department lead, instructional coach, assistant principal and principal, and the charter networks also promote from within to network-level academic roles.
Related Careers in Chicago
If teaching interests you, these related Chicago roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
What license do you need to teach in Chicago?
Chicago Public Schools and other Illinois public schools require a Professional Educator License from the Illinois State Board of Education, with an endorsement for the grade and subject you teach. Charter and Catholic schools set their own hiring requirements, so check each posting.
How much do CPS teachers make?
Under the 2024-28 CTU contract, a first-year CPS teacher with a bachelor's degree earns $69,730 in 2026-27 and one with a master's earns $74,560. Teachers at the top of the schedule with the most added credits earn more than $130,000.
Is edTPA still required in Illinois?
No. ISBE has waived the edTPA, and the waiver now runs to September 1, 2029. You do still need to pass the Illinois content test for each endorsement before the license is issued.
Can I teach in Chicago while I earn my license?
Yes, through a residency. The CPS Teacher Residency pays $40,000 plus benefits in the training year and leads to a Professional Educator License, in return for teaching in CPS after you finish. Noble and KIPP Chicago run residency routes of their own.
Which Chicago teaching jobs are in highest demand?
Special education and bilingual roles show up across nearly every network's openings, and Distinctive Schools is paying sign-on bonuses of $2,500 for special education teachers and $3,000 for bilingual instructional support teachers. Holding a special education or ESL endorsement widens your options at CPS and the charters.
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