Chicago Teaching Fellows :: Making a difference in our city's classrooms.

Salary & Benefits

Salary
The starting salary for Fellows is the same as that for all other beginning teachers in Chicago Public Schools. However, the exact amount will vary depending on an individual’s education background. A Fellow with a bachelor's degree will earn approximately $43,000; a Fellow with a master's degree may earn approximately $2,500 more.

In addition to this salary, CPS employees receive a 7% employer pension contribution. As employees of Chicago Public Schools, Fellows are eligible for the same comprehensive benefits as all other district teachers. Please click on these links for more information on CPS salary and benefits.

Loan Forgiveness
Individuals who commit to teach full-time in under-resourced schools may be eligible for loan deferment or forgiveness of federal Stafford and Perkins loans. Fellows with Stafford and/or Perkins loans should contact their loan provider(s) directly to inquire about this possibility.

Housing
The Chicago Public Schools Teacher Housing Resource Center can provide assistance to teachers seeking to rent or own housing in Chicago. The Resource Center offers discounts on premier rental properties city-wide and homebuyer assistance up to $7,500.

For more information, please visit the Teacher Housing Resource Center at http://teacherhousing.cps.k12.il.us/.

In addition, Fellows may be eligible for The Good Neighbor Next Door program, which is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiative designed to encourage teachers to buy homes in low and moderate-income neighborhoods. More information is available on the HCD website at: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/reo/goodn/gnndabot.cfm.

Chicago Public Schools requires that its teachers reside within the city limits. However, participants in alternative certification programs, such as the Chicago Teaching Fellows, and teachers in high-need subject areas (including math, science, Spanish, Chinese, and special education) are exempt from the residency requirement, once they obtain a residency waiver.