How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical Pharmacy Tech in Illinois earns about $22.43 per hour ($46,650 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to around $3,888 a month. On a weekly basis, that comes to about $897.

That figure sits about 2% above the national typical pay of $45,750 a year, or $22.00 an hour, according to the same May 2025 data. Among all states and Washington, D.C., Illinois ranks 18th out of 51 for Pharmacy Tech pay. The state employs 21,340 Pharmacy Techs, compared with 471,680 nationwide, giving Illinois a sizable share of the profession's workforce.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $17.57 an hour, or about $36,550 a year, according to the May 2025 data. Some entry-level roles pay closer to $18.36 an hour, or $38,190 a year, depending on the employer and setting. Within a few years, pay for most Pharmacy Techs moves up toward the state's typical figure of $46,650 a year.

Experienced Pharmacy Techs in Illinois often earn upwards of $23.63 an hour, or $49,150 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $28.01 an hour, or $58,260 a year. That leaves a spread of $21,710 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Experience, the employer's setting, and the city all tend to separate where a Pharmacy Tech lands within that range.

Illinois Pharmacy Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade. Typical pay rose from $28,810 in 2015 to $46,650 in 2025, a gain of $17,840. That amounts to a 62% rise over ten years, with the increase accelerating noticeably between 2023 and 2025.

That 62% increase outpaces the national rise of 50% for Pharmacy Techs over the same ten years. Pay in this field has moved up steadily in Illinois, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed. Someone starting as a Pharmacy Tech now enters the field at a higher starting point than techs did a decade ago.

Pay is fairly consistent across Illinois metro areas, with Chicago leading at $46,820 a year, or $22.51 an hour, essentially in line with the state figure overall. Peoria follows closely at $46,110 a year, and Rockford at $45,170 a year. Each of these figures reflects pay across the full metro area, not just the city center.

At the lower end, Champaign pays $37,970 a year, or $18.25 an hour, for a spread of $8,850 between the highest- and lowest-paying metro areas tracked in the state. Chicago also has the largest Pharmacy Tech workforce in Illinois, with 15,830 employed there. Lower pay in smaller metro areas like Champaign usually tracks a lower cost of living.

Illinois pay compares favorably with most of its neighbors. Wisconsin comes closest at $45,970 a year, just 1% below Illinois, while Iowa ($44,860) and Indiana ($44,560) trail by about 4%. Missouri and Kentucky pay noticeably less, at $40,100 and $39,200, roughly 14% and 16% below Illinois. Pharmacy Tech licensure or registration earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can widen job options near the border.

Pharmacy Techs in Illinois typically earn $46,650 a year ($22.43 an hour) as of May 2025, up 62% from a decade earlier. Anyone pursuing this career should check Illinois's pharmacy technician registration requirements through the state's licensing board. Pay also varies by city, from Chicago down to Champaign, so looking up local city figures can help with a more precise estimate for a specific area.