How Much Does an MLT Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for MLTs in Chicago, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chicago · Naperville · Elgin metro area
A typical MLT in Chicago, Illinois earns $35.56 per hour, or $73,960 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,163 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,580, and the top 10% of earners make over $100,820.
That pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $71,950 and 18% above the national figure of $62,930. Chicago ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Illinois for MLT pay. About 7,620 MLTs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
MLT pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $35.56 an hour, or $73,960 a year.
- That is 3% above the Illinois figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $44,580; the top 10% make over $100,820.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an MLT make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $21.43 an hour to more than $48.47 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
MLT pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $44,580$21.43 an hour | $44,980$21.62 an hour | $38,910$18.71 an hour |
| First years | $53,820$25.88 an hour | $53,820$25.88 an hour | $47,650$22.91 an hour |
| Typical MLT | $73,960$35.56 an hour | $71,950$34.59 an hour | $62,930$30.26 an hour |
| Experienced | $84,050$40.41 an hour | $82,880$39.85 an hour | $81,450$39.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $100,820$48.47 an hour | $99,970$48.06 an hour | $100,990$48.55 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
MLT pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for MLTs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2017 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2017, typical MLT pay in Chicago was $56,100 a year. By 2025 it had reached $73,960.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Rockford pays MLTs the most in Illinois at $76,380 a year, $2,420 more than Chicago. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $47,770.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | MLTs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockford | $76,380 | $36.72 | +3% | 230 |
| 2 | Bloomington | $75,530 | $36.31 | +2% | 150 |
| 3 | Chicago | $73,960 | $35.56 | this city | 7,620 |
| 4 | Peoria | $66,560 | $32.00 | -10% | 300 |
| 5 | Springfield | $65,030 | $31.26 | -12% | 270 |
| 6 | Decatur | $62,400 | $30.00 | -16% | 50 |
| 7 | Kankakee | $61,200 | $29.42 | -17% | 820 |
| 8 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $47,770 | $22.97 | -35% | 400 |
Every metro area in Illinois with MLT wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $71,950
Is Chicago a good place to work as an MLT?
MLTs in Chicago earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $73,960 a year, 18% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 1.7 are MLT positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.1. That makes MLTs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an MLT make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical MLT in Chicago earns $73,960 a year, or $35.56 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $44,580 and the top 10% earn over $100,820.
- How much does an MLT make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for MLTs in Chicago is $35.56. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $21.43, and the top 10% earn over $48.47 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an MLT in Chicago?
- Entry-level MLT positions in Chicago typically offer around $21.43 an hour, or $44,580 a year.
- Is MLT pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $71,950 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Rockford pays the most in Illinois at $76,380.