Broadcast Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Broadcast Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $96,060 a year — 61% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $71,798 take-home, or $5,983 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median broadcast technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,303
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,956
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,393
- Illinois income tax$4,610
- Take-home pay$71,798
Marginal rate: 22% 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.
Broadcast Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,140 | $17.86 | $30,328 | $2,527 |
| 25th percentile | $47,540 | $22.86 | $38,170 | $3,181 |
| Median (50th) | $96,060 | $46.18 | $71,798 | $5,983 |
| 75th percentile | $103,820 | $49.91 | $76,873 | $6,406 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $129,180 | $62.11 | $93,311 | $7,776 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $96,060 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 broadcast technician's $71,798 take-home pay has the buying power of $69,306 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Broadcast Technician jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for broadcast technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 8 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,180 | $78,250 | $76,301 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $96,060 | $71,798 | $69,306 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $96,820 | $72,271 | $64,205 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $78,050 | $61,012 | $57,677 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $74,490 | $61,234 | $53,641 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $75,010 | $58,170 | $53,424 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $63,500 | $53,202 | $51,608 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $77,790 | $59,533 | $51,493 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 8 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a broadcast technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median broadcast technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $96,060 a year, or about $46.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,540 and $103,820.
What is a broadcast technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $96,060 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $71,798 a year ($5,983 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,610 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a broadcast technician?
Pay here is 61% above the national median of $59,570. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $69,306 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #2 of 8 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a broadcast 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) — 26% of a median broadcast technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Art Director — $104,570
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $102,370
- Technical Writer — $89,960
- Producer and Director — $85,040
- Special Effects Artist and Animator — $83,200
- Editor — $80,380
- Public Relations Specialist — $77,050
- Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner — $76,790
- Interior Designer — $76,570
- Writer and Author — $75,940
- Sound Engineering Technician — $73,140
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists — $70,350