Avionics Technicians Salary
The median pay for a avionics technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $81,620/year ($39.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $131K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $78,791 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $82K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About avionics technicians
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Avionics technicians pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $82K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for avionics technicians in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $46K | $50K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $42K | $46K |
| St. Louis | $82K | $86K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $77K | $81K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level avionics technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $82K. Top earners bring in $131K or more, a $86K spread from bottom to top.
Avionics Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Avionics Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $117K | +43% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $100K | +22% | 260 |
| Maryland | $97K | +18% | 160 |
| Alabama | $96K | +17% | 910 |
| Alaska | $95K | +15% | 50 |
| New Mexico | $94K | +14% | N/A |
| California | $92K | +12% | 1,220 |
| Washington | $91K | +11% | 3,400 |
| Massachusetts | $89K | +9% | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $87K | +6% | 30 |
| Hawaii | $86K | +5% | 90 |
| Virginia | $86K | +4% | 250 |
| Wyoming | $84K | +3% | N/A |
| Oregon | $84K | +2% | 140 |
| Florida | $84K | +2% | 2,400 |
| South Dakota | $83K | +1% | 40 |
| New York | $83K | +1% | 130 |
| Texas | $82K | -0% | 1,710 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -1% | 270 |
| Illinois | $81K | -1% | 300 |
| Idaho | $81K | -2% | 80 |
| Louisiana | $80K | -2% | 200 |
| Nevada | $80K | -3% | 50 |
| Arizona | $80K | -3% | 600 |
| Georgia | $79K | -4% | 1,820 |
| Colorado | $79K | -4% | 220 |
| North Carolina | $79K | -4% | 520 |
| Indiana | $77K | -7% | 60 |
| Missouri | $72K | -13% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $71K | -14% | 530 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -20% | 160 |
| Utah | $65K | -21% | 180 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -21% | 130 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -26% | 480 |
| Ohio | $60K | -27% | 160 |
| North Dakota | $60K | -27% | 80 |
| Kansas | $60K | -27% | 170 |
| Michigan | $58K | -29% | 300 |
| Montana | $57K | -30% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $56K | -32% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $54K | -34% | 100 |
| Kentucky | $42K | -48% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track avionics technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a avionics technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $82K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for avionics technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new avionics technicians typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,686/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 66% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is avionics technician a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $82K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for avionics technicians?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $82K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — below the national median.
How much do avionics technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $81,620 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,770, and experienced avionics technicians can clear $130,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $82K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,147/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 34.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a avionics technicians salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median avionics technicians salary is worth about $78,791 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do avionics technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.