Chicago Teachers Union dues support 54 bosses making over $100K

Chicago Teachers Union bosses make a lot more than members. Little of members’ dues pay for representation. See who makes what, here.

Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union, takes in over $273,000 for her union gigs. But she’s not the only one making big money.

More than 50 CTU officers and employees made $100,000 or more in the 2025 fiscal year. To put that in context, the median salary in Chicago is $65,250. The average Chicago teacher made $86,439 during the 2023-2024 school year.

Not even 18% of CTU’s spending in its 2025 fiscal year was on representing teachers – what is supposed to be its core focus. That’s according to the union’s own numbers.

Want to know who else at union headquarters is raking in the big bucks? Use our look-up tool below.