Audio and Video Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Audio and Video Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $63,780 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $50,415 take-home, or $4,201 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median audio and video technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,474
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,954
- Medicare (1.45%)$925
- Illinois income tax$3,012
- Take-home pay$50,415
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Audio and Video Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $42,640 | $20.50 | $34,475 | $2,873 |
| Median (50th) | $63,780 | $30.66 | $50,415 | $4,201 |
| 75th percentile | $86,470 | $41.57 | $65,526 | $5,461 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $116,880 | $56.19 | $85,414 | $7,118 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,780 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median audio and video technician's $50,415 take-home pay has the buying power of $48,665 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.2× the national concentration of audio and video technician jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for audio and video technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $72,300 | $56,386 | $50,093 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $63,780 | $50,415 | $48,665 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $64,900 | $51,504 | $45,351 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
About the job: audio and video technicians
Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.9% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a audio and video technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median audio and video technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $63,780 a year, or about $30.66 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,640 and $86,470.
What is a audio and video technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $63,780 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $50,415 a year ($4,201 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,012 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a audio and video technician?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $58,100. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $48,665 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a audio and video technician afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median audio and video technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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