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

A typical Rad Tech in Illinois earns about $38.43 per hour ($79,930 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $6,661 a month and $1,537 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by employer and city, but this is the typical wage for the occupation across the state.

Illinois pay is nearly identical to the national figure of $80,110 a year, sitting less than 1% below it. The state ranks 25th out of 51 states and territories tracked by the latest wage data. About 7,650 Rad Techs work in Illinois, compared with 230,490 nationwide. That places Illinois in the middle of the pack for both pay and workforce size among states.

Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Illinois typically offer around $28.54 an hour, or about $59,350 a year. Pay for those with a bit more experience often reaches $31.73 an hour, or roughly $66,000 a year. From there, earnings tend to climb toward the statewide typical figure of $38.43 an hour within the first few years on the job. Setting, shift type, and location all factor into how quickly that happens.

Experienced Rad Techs in Illinois often earn upwards of $47.09 an hour, or close to $97,950 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $50.10 an hour, or more than $104,210 a year. That leaves a spread of $44,860 between entry-level and top-earning positions. Experience, work setting, and city tend to explain most of that gap.

In 2019, the typical Rad Tech in Illinois earned $61,710 a year. By 2025, that figure had climbed to $79,930, a gain of $18,220. That amounts to a rise of about 30% over six years. Pay increased in every year of that stretch, with the sharpest single-year jumps coming in 2023 and 2024.

Nationally, Rad Tech pay rose about 32% over the same stretch, a couple of points ahead of Illinois's climb. The two figures have moved in the same direction, with pay rising steadily both in Illinois and across the country. For someone starting out now, that history shows earnings in this field have trended upward in recent years. Future pay isn't guaranteed, but the recent record has been one of steady gains.

Chicago pays Rad Techs the most in Illinois, at $82,140 a year ($39.49 an hour), about 3% above the statewide figure. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city itself. Springfield and Peoria follow, at $77,800 and $76,490 a year. Pay in the state's other metro areas clusters not far behind the top figure.

Rock Island pays the least among the state's largest job centers, at $64,580 a year, a spread of $17,560 between the top- and lowest-paying areas. Chicago has both the highest pay and the largest Rad Tech workforce in the state, with about 5,650 employed there. Higher pay in Chicago tends to track its higher cost of living compared with smaller Illinois cities. Rad Techs weighing a move should factor in local living costs.

Illinois pay compares favorably with most of its neighbors. Wisconsin comes closest, at $79,140 a year, just 1% below Illinois, followed by Indiana at $77,640 (3% lower), Missouri at $73,080 (9% lower), Kentucky at $69,670 (13% lower), and Iowa furthest behind at $65,930, about 18% lower. Radiologic technology licenses are often transferable or eligible for endorsement between neighboring states, simplifying a move across state lines.

Rad Techs in Illinois typically earn $79,930 a year, close to the national figure, after a decade of steady gains that added $18,220 to typical pay since 2019. Pay runs highest in Chicago and lowest in smaller cities like Rock Island, with cost of living explaining much of that gap. Readers considering the field should check the Illinois state licensing or registry page for current requirements, and city-specific pages for local pay figures.