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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
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 #6 of 6 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas, TX | $79,990 | $65,103 | $63,152 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $71,050 | $58,814 | $59,631 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $84,120 | $64,063 | $56,913 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $81,580 | $61,804 | $54,421 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $67,570 | $53,481 | $53,450 |
| 6 | 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 6 metros →
About the job: surgical technologists
Assist in operations, under the supervision of surgeons, registered nurses, or other surgical personnel. May help set up operating room, prepare and transport patients for surgery, adjust lights and equipment, pass instruments and other supplies to surgeons and surgeons’ assistants, hold retractors, cut sutures, and help count sponges, needles, supplies, and instruments.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
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 #6 of 6 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%.
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