Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $81,360 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,184 take-home, or $5,182 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median civil engineering technologist and technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,069
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,044
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,180
- Illinois income tax$3,883
- Take-home pay$62,184
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.
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,940 | $24.97 | $41,488 | $3,457 |
| 25th percentile | $64,100 | $30.82 | $50,656 | $4,221 |
| Median (50th) | $81,360 | $39.12 | $62,184 | $5,182 |
| 75th percentile | $100,440 | $48.29 | $74,663 | $6,222 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $126,520 | $60.83 | $91,624 | $7,635 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $81,360 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 civil engineering technologist and technician's $62,184 take-home pay has the buying power of $60,026 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.13).
Best-paying cities for civil engineering technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 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 | $97,510 | $71,322 | $61,690 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $76,200 | $59,779 | $61,667 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $84,660 | $68,388 | $61,537 |
| 4 | Tampa, FL | $75,070 | $61,642 | $61,098 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $81,360 | $62,184 | $60,026 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $84,690 | $63,662 | $59,681 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $84,930 | $61,977 | $58,790 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $79,890 | $61,123 | $58,312 |
*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 civil engineering technologist and technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median civil engineering technologist and technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $81,360 a year, or about $39.12 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,100 and $100,440.
What is a civil engineering technologist and technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $81,360 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $62,184 a year ($5,182 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,883 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a civil engineering technologist and technician?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $64,950. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $60,026 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a civil engineering technologist and 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) — 30% of a median civil engineering technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Nuclear Engineer — $134,510
- Computer Hardware Engineer — $133,860
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $125,650
- Engineers, All Other — $121,910
- Electrical Engineer — $113,520
- Environmental Engineer — $110,700
- Mechanical Engineer — $102,070
- Industrial Engineer — $101,760
- Civil Engineer — $100,160
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician — $85,510
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval — $81,790
- Surveyor — $80,060