Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Illinois make a median of $71,950 a year, or about $34.59 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $100K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $76,665 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Illinois?
About clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 14% higher than the U.S. median of $63K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $100K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Illinois
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $76K | +6% | 230 |
| Bloomington | $76K | +5% | 150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $74K | +3% | 7,620 |
| Peoria | $67K | -7% | 300 |
| Springfield | $65K | -10% | 270 |
| Decatur | $62K | -13% | 50 |
| Kankakee | $61K | -15% | 820 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical laboratory technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 30.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,699/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical laboratory technologists and technician a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 14% above the national median — $72K here vs. $63K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Illinois pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s +14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Illinois?
The median is $71,950 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,980, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $99,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,620/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 30.5% 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary is worth about $76,665 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical laboratory technologists and 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.