Chemical Technician salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Chemical Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $62,100 a year ($29.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,720 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $60,390. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $61,890. There are 0.25 chemical technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $66,160, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for chemical technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,480 | $19.94 |
| 25th percentile | $48,650 | $23.39 |
| Median | $62,100 | $29.86 |
| 75th percentile | $81,090 | $38.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $92,720 | $44.58 |
| Average (mean) | $66,160 | $31.81 |
Half of chemical technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,175 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,587.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,388.46 |
| Weekly | $1,194.23 |
| Hourly | $29.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $62,100 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Chemical Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $85,230 | 220 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $73,290 | 370 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $64,410 | 40 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $64,190 | 80 |
| Peoria, IL | $62,830 | 40 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $62,020 | 730 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $61,760 | 550 |
| Bloomington, IN | $61,640 | 90 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $58,540 | 170 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $58,430 | 50 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,300 | 60 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $46,060 | 80 |
| Columbus, IN | $45,360 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for chemical technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $85,850 |
| Alaska | $79,380 |
| Delaware | $78,620 |
| South Carolina | $75,020 |
| Missouri | $68,550 |
| Massachusetts | $67,570 |
| Arizona | $65,860 |
| Vermont | $65,560 |
| Hawaii | $63,910 |
| Colorado | $63,770 |
See Chemical Technician pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $60,380 | $29.03 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $61,420 | $29.53 |
| Biological Technician | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Nuclear Technician | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $49,630 | $23.86 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $112,790 | $54.23 |
| Food Science Technician | $66,630 | $32.04 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,890 | $31.20 |
| Agricultural Technician | $52,310 | $25.15 |
| Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians | $64,420 | $30.97 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-4031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chemical technician make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for chemical technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $62,100 a year, or $29.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $41,480 for the lowest-paid 10% to $92,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid chemical technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of chemical technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $92,720 a year. The top 25% earn $81,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for chemical technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $41,480 a year, and a quarter of chemical technicians earn $48,650 or less.
How many chemical technicians work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 1,140 chemical technicians are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.