Nuclear Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,360 or more. The middle half of nuclear technicians in Chicago earn between $80,800 and $125,360.
- $66K10th
- $81K25th
- $100KMedian
- $125K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,150 | $8,346 | $48.15 |
| Median | $99,990 | $8,332 | $48.07 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,800 | $6,733 | $38.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,360 | $10,447 | $60.27 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nuclear Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Nuclear technicians in Chicago earn 5% less than the Illinois average ($105,680) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($108,940). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $110,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $100,150 | $99,990 | $65,750 | $125,360 | 470 |
| Illinois | $105,680 | $110,390 | $65,750 | $125,360 | 780 |
| United States | $108,940 | $110,240 | $73,150 | $133,600 | 6,470 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nuclear Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $100,150, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $74,469 a year, or $6,206 a month and $2,864 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $76,311 | $6,359 |
| Working in IL | $74,469 | $6,206 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for nuclear 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 $100,150 buys what about $96,675 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Nuclear Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Knoxville, TN$85,800
- Greenville, SC$94,740
- Birmingham, AL$128,840
- Richmond, VA$122,440
- Augusta, GA$106,290
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,570
Highest-paying cities for nuclear technicians
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,710).
- New York, NY$148,710
- Birmingham, AL$128,840
- Richmond, VA$122,440
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,570
- Augusta, GA$106,290
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Nuclear Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do nuclear technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$48.15 an hour on average, and $48.07 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nuclear technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nuclear technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $74,469 a year ($6,206 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,150.
Do nuclear technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($108,940).
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 19-4051; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 2.51, this job is 2.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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