Library Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,260 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,910 or more. The middle half of library technicians in Chicago earn between $38,220 and $57,640.
- $36K10th
- $38K25th
- $47KMedian
- $58K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,290 | $4,108 | $23.70 |
| Median | $47,100 | $3,925 | $22.64 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $38,220 | $3,185 | $18.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $57,640 | $4,803 | $27.71 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Library Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Library technicians in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($48,950) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($45,500). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $44,580.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $49,290 | $47,100 | $36,260 | $62,910 | 1,520 |
| Illinois | $48,950 | $47,120 | $33,780 | $63,170 | 2,140 |
| United States | $45,500 | $44,580 | $29,300 | $63,080 | 68,690 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Library Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $49,290, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $39,486 a year, or $3,290 a month and $1,519 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $40,336 | $3,361 |
| Working in IL | $39,486 | $3,290 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for library technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $49,290 buys what about $47,580 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 7.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Library Technicians salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 7 Illinois metro areas for this job; Champaign pays the most ($54,160).
- Champaign$54,160
- Chicago$49,290
- Decatur$47,880
- Springfield$46,970
- Bloomington$44,490
- Peoria$43,320
- Rockford$36,550
Highest-paying cities for library technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($70,490).
- San Francisco, CA$70,490
- San Jose, CA$68,890
- New Haven, CT$67,720
- Seattle, WA$66,910
- Olympia, WA$63,430
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Library Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do library technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$23.70 an hour on average, and $22.64 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level library technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,260 a year and the 25th percentile is $38,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the library technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $39,486 a year ($3,290 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,290.
Do library technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% more than the U.S. average for this job ($45,500).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 25-4031; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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