Pharmacy Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Pharmacy Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $46,820 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,627 take-home, or $3,136 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,438
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,903
- Medicare (1.45%)$679
- Illinois income tax$2,173
- Take-home pay$37,627
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.
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,780 | $18.16 | $30,811 | $2,568 |
| 25th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 | $31,603 | $2,634 |
| Median (50th) | $46,820 | $22.51 | $37,627 | $3,136 |
| 75th percentile | $49,950 | $24.01 | $39,987 | $3,332 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,170 | $28.45 | $46,939 | $3,912 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,820 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 pharmacy technician's $37,627 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,321 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacy Technician jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #126 of 167 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $75,490 | $58,129 | $52,642 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $57,830 | $48,646 | $48,479 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | $51,451 | $46,296 |
| 4 | Killeen, TX | $47,400 | $40,266 | $44,184 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $44,890 | $37,289 | $43,990 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | $46,843 | $43,914 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $58,670 | $46,989 | $43,316 |
| 8 | Sioux Falls, SD | $45,610 | $38,828 | $42,841 |
| 126 | Chicago, IL | $46,820 | $37,627 | $36,321 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 167 metros →
Pharmacy Technician salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Peoria, IL — $46,110
- Rockford, IL — $45,170
- Springfield, IL — $42,160
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $46,820 a year, or about $22.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $38,830 and $49,950.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $46,820 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $37,627 a year ($3,136 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,173 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,321 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #126 of 167 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy 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 pharmacy 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