Dietetic Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Dietetic Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $43,560 a year — 16% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,169 take-home, or $2,931 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dietetic technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,047
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,701
- Medicare (1.45%)$632
- Illinois income tax$2,011
- Take-home pay$35,169
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.
Dietetic Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,020 | $16.36 | $27,976 | $2,331 |
| 25th percentile | $39,010 | $18.75 | $31,738 | $2,645 |
| Median (50th) | $43,560 | $20.94 | $35,169 | $2,931 |
| 75th percentile | $45,860 | $22.05 | $36,903 | $3,075 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,420 | $23.76 | $39,587 | $3,299 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,560 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 dietetic technician's $35,169 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,949 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dietetic Technician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.50), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dietetic technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Riverside, CA | $47,640 | $38,932 | $36,575 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $49,800 | $40,102 | $35,626 |
| 3 | Salt Lake City, UT | $41,250 | $34,434 | $34,138 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $43,560 | $35,169 | $33,949 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $45,450 | $37,301 | $32,845 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $45,930 | $37,661 | $32,575 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, MI | $36,420 | $30,146 | $31,552 |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $36,800 | $30,436 | $30,345 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dietetic technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median dietetic technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $43,560 a year, or about $20.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,010 and $45,860.
What is a dietetic technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $43,560 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $35,169 a year ($2,931 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,011 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a dietetic technician?
Pay here is 16% above the national median of $37,640. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,949 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #4 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dietetic 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) — 52% of a median dietetic technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Optometrist — $145,630
- Pharmacist — $140,880