How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Chicago, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical 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 Surgical Tech in Chicago, Illinois earns $31.91 per hour, or $66,360 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,530 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,590, and the top 10% of earners make over $94,030.
That pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $64,650 and 3% above the national figure of $64,650. Chicago ranks 2nd of 7 metro areas in Illinois for Surgical Tech pay. About 2,530 Surgical Techs work in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area.
Surgical Tech pay in Chicago at a glance
- Typical pay is $31.91 an hour, or $66,360 a year.
- That is 3% above the Illinois figure, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $50,590; the top 10% make over $94,030.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Chicago?
Pay in Chicago runs from entry-level positions at around $24.32 an hour to more than $45.21 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Chicago
| Career stage | Chicago | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $50,590$24.32 an hour | $48,560$23.35 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $62,730$30.16 an hour | $60,160$28.92 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $66,360$31.91 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,980$37.97 an hour | $77,670$37.34 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $94,030$45.21 an hour | $91,890$44.18 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Chicago
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Chicago was $45,370 a year. By 2025 it had reached $66,360, a change of +46%, compared with +49% for Illinois over the same years.
How Chicago compares with other Illinois cities
Bloomington pays Surgical Techs the most in Illinois at $68,140 a year, $1,780 more than Chicago. The lowest-paying area in the state is Peoria at $59,470.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chicago | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bloomington | $68,140 | $32.76 | +3% | 80 |
| 2 | Chicago | $66,360 | $31.91 | this city | 2,530 |
| 3 | Springfield | $62,590 | $30.09 | -6% | 130 |
| 4 | Rockford | $61,740 | $29.68 | -7% | 160 |
| 5 | Moline metro incl. Rock Island | $60,520 | $29.10 | -9% | 110 |
| 6 | Kankakee | $59,940 | $28.82 | -10% | 40 |
| 7 | Peoria | $59,470 | $28.59 | -10% | 180 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $64,650
Is Chicago a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Tech pay in Chicago sits close to the national figure: $66,360 a year, 3% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chicago · Naperville · Elgin area, about 0.6 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes Surgical 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 Surgical Tech make in Chicago, IL?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Chicago earns $66,360 a year, or $31.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $50,590 and the top 10% earn over $94,030.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Chicago?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Chicago is $31.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $24.32, and the top 10% earn over $45.21 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Chicago?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Chicago typically offer around $24.32 an hour, or $50,590 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Chicago higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Chicago pay is 3% above the Illinois figure of $64,650 a year, ranking 2nd of 7 metro areas in the state. Bloomington pays the most in Illinois at $68,140.