Biological Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Biological Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $57,700 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $45,831 take-home, or $3,819 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,744
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,577
- Medicare (1.45%)$837
- Illinois income tax$2,711
- Take-home pay$45,831
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.
Biological Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,950 | $18.73 | $31,693 | $2,641 |
| 25th percentile | $44,070 | $21.19 | $35,554 | $2,963 |
| Median (50th) | $57,700 | $27.74 | $45,831 | $3,819 |
| 75th percentile | $70,060 | $33.68 | $54,794 | $4,566 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $79,030 | $38.00 | $60,660 | $5,055 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,700 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 biological technician's $45,831 take-home pay has the buying power of $44,240 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Biological Technician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.23), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for biological technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 29 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $95,220 | $69,954 | $60,507 |
| 2 | Worcester, MA | $69,730 | $54,619 | $53,274 |
| 3 | Richmond, VA | $65,210 | $51,641 | $52,771 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $72,940 | $56,572 | $51,232 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $59,550 | $48,301 | $50,474 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $65,140 | $52,362 | $49,500 |
| 7 | Phoenix, AZ | $61,280 | $50,095 | $48,487 |
| 8 | Durham, NC | $58,400 | $47,283 | $48,460 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $57,700 | $45,831 | $44,240 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median biological technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $57,700 a year, or about $27.74 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,070 and $70,060.
What is a biological technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $57,700 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $45,831 a year ($3,819 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,711 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a biological technician?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $57,510. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $44,240 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological 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) — 40% of a median biological technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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