Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, nuclear technicians earn $99,990 at the median, or about $48.07 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $96,525 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 28.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $100K 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 nuclear technicians
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Nuclear technicians pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $110K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $136K | +23% | 60 |
| New York | $130K | +18% | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $124K | +13% | 310 |
| Texas | $124K | +13% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $113K | +3% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $110K | +0% | 420 |
| Illinois | $110K | +0% | 780 |
| Alabama | $110K | +0% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $108K | -2% | 750 |
| Washington | $108K | -2% | 90 |
| Missouri | $105K | -5% | 150 |
| California | $99K | -10% | N/A |
| Virginia | $99K | -10% | 680 |
| Tennessee | $92K | -17% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear 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 nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 29% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,945/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nuclear technician a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $110K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $97K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $99,990 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,750, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $125,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,148/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 29% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear 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 nuclear technicians salary is worth about $96,525 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear 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.