How Much Does a Rad Tech Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Rad Techs 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 Rad Tech in Chicago, Illinois earns $39.49 per hour, or $82,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,845 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $60,130, and the top 10% of earners make over $106,150.
That pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $79,930 and 3% above the national figure of $80,110. Chicago ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Illinois for Rad Tech pay. About 5,650 Rad Techs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
Rad Tech pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.49 an hour, or $82,140 a year.
- That is 3% above the Illinois figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $60,130; the top 10% make over $106,150.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Rad Tech make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $28.91 an hour to more than $51.04 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Rad Tech pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $60,130$28.91 an hour | $59,350$28.54 an hour | $55,980$26.91 an hour |
| First years | $67,940$32.66 an hour | $66,000$31.73 an hour | $64,810$31.16 an hour |
| Typical Rad Tech | $82,140$39.49 an hour | $79,930$38.43 an hour | $80,110$38.52 an hour |
| Experienced | $99,360$47.77 an hour | $97,950$47.09 an hour | $98,750$47.47 an hour |
| Top 10% | $106,150$51.04 an hour | $104,210$50.10 an hour | $118,660$57.05 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
Rad Tech pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for Rad Techs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2019 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2019, typical Rad Tech pay in Chicago was $66,330 a year. By 2025 it had reached $82,140.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays Rad Techs the most of any metro area in Illinois. The lowest-paying area in the state is Rock Island at $64,580.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | Rad Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $82,140 | $39.49 | this city | 5,650 |
| 2 | Springfield | $77,800 | $37.40 | -5% | 210 |
| 3 | Peoria | $76,490 | $36.78 | -7% | 310 |
| 4 | Kankakee | $75,620 | $36.35 | -8% | 70 |
| 5 | Rockford | $75,500 | $36.30 | -8% | 260 |
| 6 | Bloomington | $74,590 | $35.86 | -9% | 140 |
| 7 | Urbana metro incl. Champaign | $66,760 | $32.10 | -19% | 210 |
| 8 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $64,580 | $31.05 | -21% | 280 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Rad Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $79,930
Is Chicago a good place to work as a Rad Tech?
Rad Tech pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $82,140 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 1.3 are Rad Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. That makes Rad Techs 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 a Rad Tech make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical Rad Tech in Chicago earns $82,140 a year, or $39.49 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $60,130 and the top 10% earn over $106,150.
- How much does a Rad Tech make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for Rad Techs in Chicago is $39.49. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $28.91, and the top 10% earn over $51.04 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Rad Tech in Chicago?
- Entry-level Rad Tech positions in Chicago typically offer around $28.91 an hour, or $60,130 a year.
- Is Rad Tech pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $79,930 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.