Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Illinois, nuclear technicians earn $110,390 at the median, or about $53.07 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $117,624 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 20.2% 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 $110K get you in Illinois?
About nuclear technicians
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What this looks like in Illinois
Nuclear technicians pay in Illinois tracks closely to the national median, $110K locally vs. $110K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,407/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Technicians salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $100K | -9% | 470 |
Compare to other states
Track nuclear technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Illinois?
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 $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Illinois?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $110K locally vs. $110K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Illinois pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Illinois?
The median is $110,390 a year, that works out to about $53 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 $110K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,715/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 21% 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 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 nuclear technicians salary is worth about $117,624 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.