Surgical Technologist Salary in Chicago, IL
Surgical Technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $66,360 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,360 take-home, or $4,363 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median surgical technologist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,783
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,114
- Medicare (1.45%)$962
- Illinois income tax$3,140
- Take-home pay$52,360
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.
Surgical Technologist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,590 | $24.32 | $40,470 | $3,372 |
| 25th percentile | $62,730 | $30.16 | $49,623 | $4,135 |
| Median (50th) | $66,360 | $31.90 | $52,360 | $4,363 |
| 75th percentile | $78,980 | $37.97 | $60,628 | $5,052 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,030 | $45.21 | $70,470 | $5,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $66,360 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 surgical technologist's $52,360 take-home pay has the buying power of $50,543 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Surgical Technologist jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.74), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for surgical technologists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #50 of 57 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $106,840 | $76,896 | $69,638 |
| 2 | Dallas, TX | $79,990 | $65,103 | $63,152 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $99,390 | $72,445 | $62,662 |
| 4 | Buffalo, NY | $77,440 | $59,724 | $62,314 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $73,810 | $60,755 | $61,954 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $74,200 | $61,030 | $60,899 |
| 7 | Boise City, ID | $76,650 | $59,799 | $60,777 |
| 8 | Milwaukee, WI | $74,830 | $58,887 | $60,748 |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $66,360 | $52,360 | $50,543 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 57 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a surgical technologist make in Chicago, IL?
The median surgical technologist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,360 a year, or about $31.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $62,730 and $78,980.
What is a surgical technologist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $66,360 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $52,360 a year ($4,363 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,140 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a surgical technologist?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $64,650. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $50,543 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #50 of 57 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a surgical technologist 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) — 35% of a median surgical technologist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- 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
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