Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Phlebotomist Salary in Chicago, IL

Phlebotomists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $47,190 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,906 take-home, or $3,159 a month.

Median salary
$47,190
$22.69 per hour
Typical range
$38,150 – $56,200
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Chicago, IL
5,310
1.27× national concentration
▼1.7%
Pay trend: The median for phlebotomists in Chicago, IL fell from $48,000 (May 2024) to $47,190 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 4.1%.

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median phlebotomist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Phlebotomist in Chicago, IL
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$37,906
per year · effective tax rate 19.7%
$3,159Monthly
$1,579Twice a month
$1,458Every 2 weeks
$18.22Hourly
  • Federal income tax$3,483
  • Social Security (6.2%)$2,926
  • Medicare (1.45%)$684
  • Illinois income tax$2,191
  • Take-home pay$37,906

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 →

Phlebotomist pay by experience in Chicago, IL

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$38,150$18.34$31,090$2,591
25th percentile$42,130$20.25$34,091$2,841
Median (50th)$47,190$22.69$37,906$3,159
75th percentile$52,860$25.41$42,181$3,515
90th percentile (top earners)$56,200$27.02$44,700$3,725

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $47,190 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 phlebotomist's $37,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,591 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,534
49% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,743
55% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$1,625
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Chicago, IL has 1.3× the national concentration of phlebotomist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.

Best-paying cities for phlebotomists, adjusted for cost of living

Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Atlanta, GA $49,370$39,909$39,886
2Houston, TX $45,540$38,771$39,310
3Dallas, TX $46,480$39,527$38,342
4Philadelphia, PA $47,370$38,788$37,822
5Los Angeles, CA $52,940$42,803$37,690
6Phoenix, AZ $46,260$38,402$37,170
7Chicago, IL $47,190$37,906$36,591
8New York, NY $49,980$40,237$35,746

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →

About the job: phlebotomists

Draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. May explain the procedure to patients and assist in the recovery of patients with adverse reactions.

Typical education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
None
Job outlook, 2025–35
+6.8% (faster than average)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a phlebotomist make in Chicago, IL?

The median phlebotomist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,190 a year, or about $22.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $42,130 and $52,860.

What is a phlebotomist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?

On the median $47,190 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,906 a year ($3,159 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,191 in Illinois taxes in 2026.

Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a phlebotomist?

Pay here is 4% above the national median of $45,230. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,591 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a phlebotomist 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) — 49% of a median phlebotomist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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Cost of living & all salaries in Chicago, IL →