Surgical Technologist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Surgical Technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $66,360 a year ($31.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,530 workers.
Pay ranges from $50,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,030 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $64,650. Pay here is 3% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $64,650. There are 0.56 surgical technologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $73,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for surgical technologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,590 | $24.32 |
| 25th percentile | $62,730 | $30.16 |
| Median | $66,360 | $31.91 |
| 75th percentile | $78,980 | $37.97 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,030 | $45.21 |
| Average (mean) | $73,090 | $35.14 |
Half of surgical technologists 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 | $5,530 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,765 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,552.31 |
| Weekly | $1,276.15 |
| Hourly | $31.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $66,360 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Surgical Technologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | $68,140 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $67,660 | 170 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $64,790 | 70 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $64,240 | 860 |
| Evansville, IN | $64,220 | 180 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $63,590 | 540 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $63,450 | 670 |
| Bloomington, IN | $63,200 | 80 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $63,200 | 130 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $63,140 | 210 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $62,980 | 40 |
| Springfield, IL | $62,590 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,790 | 810 |
| Rockford, IL | $61,740 | 160 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $60,520 | 110 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $60,360 | 60 |
| Kankakee, IL | $59,940 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $59,470 | 180 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $57,570 | 60 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $49,880 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for surgical technologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $82,640 |
| Oregon | $81,390 |
| California | $81,310 |
| Massachusetts | $80,870 |
| Alaska | $80,380 |
| Minnesota | $80,210 |
| Connecticut | $79,890 |
| New York | $79,550 |
| District of Columbia | $77,520 |
| Washington | $77,270 |
See Surgical Technologist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,140 | $39.49 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Paramedic | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,080 | $49.56 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $100,730 | $48.43 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 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 29-2055. 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 surgical technologist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for surgical technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $66,360 a year, or $31.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $50,590 for the lowest-paid 10% to $94,030 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid surgical technologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of surgical technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $94,030 a year. The top 25% earn $78,980 or more.
What is the starting pay for surgical technologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $50,590 a year, and a quarter of surgical technologists earn $62,730 or less.
How many surgical technologists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 2,530 surgical technologists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.