Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians Salary
The median pay for a geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $64,420/year ($30.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $62,187 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 42.1% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $64K 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.
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin sits well above the national pay line for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $53K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 42.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $43K spread from bottom to top.
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $102K | +91% | 30 |
| Indiana | $79K | +49% | N/A |
| Alaska | $76K | +43% | 70 |
| Nevada | $74K | +38% | 260 |
| California | $69K | +30% | 480 |
| West Virginia | $69K | +30% | 60 |
| Washington | $64K | +20% | N/A |
| Nebraska | $63K | +18% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $63K | +18% | 90 |
| Tennessee | $63K | +18% | 110 |
| Colorado | $62K | +16% | 90 |
| Massachusetts | $62K | +16% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $60K | +12% | N/A |
| Virginia | $59K | +11% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $59K | +11% | 160 |
| Michigan | $59K | +10% | 150 |
| New York | $57K | +7% | 280 |
| Montana | $56K | +4% | 100 |
| Oregon | $55K | +3% | 70 |
| Illinois | $53K | -0% | 80 |
| South Carolina | $53K | -0% | 90 |
| Kansas | $52K | -2% | N/A |
| North Dakota | $51K | -4% | 90 |
| Arizona | $50K | -6% | N/A |
| Florida | $50K | -6% | 300 |
| Kentucky | $50K | -7% | 60 |
| Ohio | $49K | -8% | 130 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -10% | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $47K | -11% | 240 |
| Arkansas | $47K | -11% | 30 |
| Oklahoma | $47K | -12% | 410 |
| Texas | $47K | -12% | 2,190 |
| Idaho | $47K | -13% | 70 |
| Alabama | $36K | -33% | N/A |
| Georgia | $35K | -35% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a geological technicians, except hydrologic technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 42.3% 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 $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,577/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 69% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is geological technicians, except hydrologic technician a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $64K here vs. $53K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $53K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $64,420 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,950, and experienced geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians can clear $85,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,210/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 42.3% 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 geological technicians, except hydrologic 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 geological technicians, except hydrologic technicians salary is worth about $62,187 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do geological technicians, except hydrologic 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.