Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $73,960 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $57,345 take-home, or $4,779 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,441
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,586
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,072
- Illinois income tax$3,516
- Take-home pay$57,345
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,580 | $21.43 | $35,938 | $2,995 |
| 25th percentile | $53,820 | $25.88 | $42,905 | $3,575 |
| Median (50th) | $73,960 | $35.56 | $57,345 | $4,779 |
| 75th percentile | $84,050 | $40.41 | $63,943 | $5,329 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $100,820 | $48.47 | $74,911 | $6,243 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,960 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 clinical laboratory technologist and technician's $57,345 take-home pay has the buying power of $55,355 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 32 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $96,930 | $72,342 | $64,268 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $66,360 | $54,458 | $57,981 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $78,170 | $63,823 | $57,429 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $65,060 | $54,456 | $56,526 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $79,480 | $60,990 | $56,334 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $65,370 | $53,689 | $56,296 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $73,960 | $57,345 | $55,355 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $84,130 | $63,327 | $54,775 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 32 metros →
About the job: clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical laboratory technologist and technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median clinical laboratory technologist and technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $73,960 a year, or about $35.56 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $53,820 and $84,050.
What is a clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $73,960 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $57,345 a year ($4,779 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,516 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a clinical laboratory technologist and technician?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $62,930. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $55,355 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 32 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a clinical laboratory 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) — 32% of a median clinical laboratory technologist and technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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