Library Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Library Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $47,100 a year — 6% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,838 take-home, or $3,153 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median library technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,472
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,920
- Medicare (1.45%)$683
- Illinois income tax$2,187
- Take-home pay$37,838
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.
Library Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,260 | $17.43 | $29,665 | $2,472 |
| 25th percentile | $38,220 | $18.38 | $31,143 | $2,595 |
| Median (50th) | $47,100 | $22.64 | $37,838 | $3,153 |
| 75th percentile | $57,640 | $27.71 | $45,785 | $3,815 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,910 | $30.25 | $49,759 | $4,147 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,100 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 library technician's $37,838 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,525 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Library Technician jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for library technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 31 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $65,690 | $54,962 | $49,456 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $63,690 | $50,644 | $43,805 |
| 3 | Riverside, CA | $56,510 | $45,411 | $42,663 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $57,290 | $45,935 | $42,187 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $57,330 | $45,598 | $42,117 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $55,630 | $44,768 | $41,969 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $57,050 | $43,857 | $41,602 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $47,230 | $40,129 | $40,921 |
| 19 | Chicago, IL | $47,100 | $37,838 | $36,525 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 31 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a library technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median library technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $47,100 a year, or about $22.64 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,220 and $57,640.
What is a library technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $47,100 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,838 a year ($3,153 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,187 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a library technician?
Pay here is 6% above the national median of $44,580. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,525 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #19 of 31 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a library 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) — 49% of a median library technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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