Sound Engineering Technician Salary in Chicago, IL
Sound Engineering Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $73,140 a year — 0% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $56,808 take-home, or $4,734 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median sound engineering technician salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,261
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,535
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,061
- Illinois income tax$3,476
- Take-home pay$56,808
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.
Sound Engineering Technician pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,200 | $15.00 | $25,850 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $44,640 | $21.46 | $35,983 | $2,999 |
| Median (50th) | $73,140 | $35.16 | $56,808 | $4,734 |
| 75th percentile | $90,780 | $43.64 | $68,345 | $5,695 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $124,730 | $59.97 | $90,490 | $7,541 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $73,140 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 sound engineering technician's $56,808 take-home pay has the buying power of $54,837 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Sound Engineering Technician jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.18).
Best-paying cities for sound engineering technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 4 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $97,510 | $72,715 | $64,600 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $94,990 | $69,816 | $60,388 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $73,140 | $56,808 | $54,837 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $77,850 | $59,570 | $52,454 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 4 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sound engineering technician make in Chicago, IL?
The median sound engineering technician salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $73,140 a year, or about $35.16 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,640 and $90,780.
What is a sound engineering technician’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $73,140 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $56,808 a year ($4,734 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,476 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a sound engineering technician?
Pay here is 0% above the national median of $73,130. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $54,837 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #3 of 4 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a sound engineering 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 sound engineering technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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