Chemical Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Chemical Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $62,100 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $49,148 take-home, or $4,096 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median chemical technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,272
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,850
- Medicare (1.45%)$900
- Illinois income tax$2,929
- Take-home pay$49,148
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.
Chemical Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,480 | $19.94 | $33,601 | $2,800 |
| 25th percentile | $48,650 | $23.39 | $39,007 | $3,251 |
| Median (50th) | $62,100 | $29.86 | $49,148 | $4,096 |
| 75th percentile | $81,090 | $38.99 | $62,008 | $5,167 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,720 | $44.58 | $69,614 | $5,801 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $62,100 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 chemical technician's $49,148 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,443 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chemical Technician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for chemical technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #13 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $65,050 | $54,448 | $55,205 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $62,080 | $51,136 | $54,445 |
| 3 | Cincinnati, OH | $61,760 | $50,888 | $53,359 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $66,940 | $53,867 | $52,526 |
| 5 | Indianapolis, IN | $62,020 | $50,213 | $52,471 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $62,990 | $52,792 | $51,210 |
| 7 | Charlotte, NC | $61,730 | $49,826 | $51,183 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $67,850 | $53,390 | $49,314 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $62,100 | $49,148 | $47,443 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median chemical technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,100 a year, or about $29.86 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,650 and $81,090.
What is a chemical technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $62,100 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $49,148 a year ($4,096 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,929 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a chemical technician?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $60,390. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,443 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #13 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a chemical 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 chemical technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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