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

A typical Surgical Tech in Illinois earns about $31.08 per hour ($64,650 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $5,388 a month or $1,243 a week, figures calculated from the annual total. These numbers span surgical techs working in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers, and clinics across the state. For someone comparing offers or planning a household budget, the hourly and annual figures both matter.

Illinois pay lines up almost exactly with the national figure for Surgical Techs, which also stands at $64,650 a year. That places Illinois 22nd among 51 ranked states. The state employs 3,570 Surgical Techs, compared with 117,460 nationwide, a modest share of the national total. Pay this close to the national line means Illinois offers neither a premium nor a discount for the same work.

Entry-level Surgical Techs in Illinois typically start around $23.35 an hour, or about $48,560 a year, according to the latest wage data. This range covers those just finishing certification and starting their first operating room role. Pay tends to climb toward the state's typical figure of $64,650 within a few years, as hospitals reward hands-on experience and specialized skills.

Experienced Surgical Techs in Illinois often earn upwards of $77,670 a year ($37.34 an hour), and the top 10% of earners make over $91,890, or about $44.18 an hour. That's a spread of $43,330 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, specialty, and years on the job separate the two groups, with techs in larger Chicago-area hospitals and specialized surgical roles typically landing at the higher end.

Illinois Surgical Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $43,370 in 2015 to $64,650 in 2025. That's a gain of $21,280, or 49%, over ten years. The rise wasn't perfectly smooth: pay dipped slightly in 2019 and again in 2021 before climbing sharply from 2022 onward.

Nationally, Surgical Tech pay rose 46% over the same decade, just below Illinois's 49% climb. Both figures reflect steady, broad-based wage growth in the profession rather than a single-year spike. For someone starting out now, that decade of movement doesn't guarantee future raises, but it shows pay in Illinois has moved up consistently, not just kept pace with cost increases.

Pay runs highest in Bloomington, where Surgical Techs typically earn $68,140 a year ($32.76 an hour), about 5% above the state figure. Chicago, the metro with the largest Surgical Tech workforce in Illinois, follows close behind at $66,360 a year ($31.91 an hour). Springfield and Rockford pay somewhat less, at $62,590 and $61,740. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just its downtown core.

Peoria pays the least among Illinois's tracked cities, with Surgical Techs typically earning $59,470 a year ($28.59 an hour). That's a spread of $8,670 between the highest and lowest-paying cities in the state. Chicago, with 2,530 Surgical Techs, employs by far the largest workforce in the state, more than thirty times Bloomington's count. Cities with higher pay also tend to carry a higher cost of living, so a bigger paycheck doesn't always stretch as far.

Illinois pay compares favorably with most of its neighbors. Wisconsin pays the most in the region, at $74,120 a year, about 15% above Illinois. Indiana runs nearly even at $64,240, just 1% lower. Missouri ($61,120), Iowa ($60,540), and Kentucky ($60,490) each pay 5% to 6% less than Illinois. Surgical Tech certification earned in one state can often be recognized or transferred when moving to a neighboring one.

Surgical Techs in Illinois typically earn $64,650 a year ($31.08 an hour), a figure that has climbed 49% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience level, from entry-level roles near $48,560 to top earners above $91,890. Anyone considering this path in Illinois should check the state's surgical technologist certification and registry requirements, and compare pay in individual Illinois cities for a closer local picture.