Pharmacy Technician salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Pharmacy Technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $46,820 a year ($22.51 an hour), based on BLS data for 15,830 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,170 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $45,750. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $46,650. There are 3.5 pharmacy technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $47,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,780 | $18.16 |
| 25th percentile | $38,830 | $18.67 |
| Median | $46,820 | $22.51 |
| 75th percentile | $49,950 | $24.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $59,170 | $28.45 |
| Average (mean) | $47,020 | $22.61 |
Half of pharmacy technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,901.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,950.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,800.77 |
| Weekly | $900.38 |
| Hourly | $22.51 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $46,880 | 240 |
| Peoria, IL | $46,110 | 590 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $45,540 | 3,650 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $45,290 | 140 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,220 | 4,980 |
| Rockford, IL | $45,170 | 560 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $45,080 | 550 |
| Evansville, IN | $44,830 | 500 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $43,410 | 380 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $43,070 | 640 |
| Bloomington, IL | $42,990 | 270 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $42,880 | 2,750 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $42,830 | 330 |
| Springfield, IL | $42,160 | 570 |
| Decatur, IL | $40,560 | 180 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $40,490 | 3,380 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $39,820 | 220 |
| Kokomo, IN | $39,400 | 110 |
| Bloomington, IN | $39,270 | 240 |
| Kankakee, IL | $39,190 | 160 |
| Columbus, IN | $38,370 | 110 |
| Muncie, IN | $38,200 | 260 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $37,970 | 390 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $37,750 | 210 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $35,910 | 230 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,900 |
| California | $55,110 |
| Oregon | $54,900 |
| Alaska | $52,640 |
| Colorado | $49,970 |
| Montana | $49,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 |
| Utah | $48,140 |
| Nevada | $47,980 |
See Pharmacy Technician pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,070 | $37.54 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $73,960 | $35.56 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,060 | $22.14 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $82,140 | $39.49 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,020 | $21.16 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $57,970 | $27.87 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,240 | $24.15 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $47,820 | $22.99 |
| Paramedic | $77,670 | $37.34 |
| Surgical Technologist | $66,360 | $31.91 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $50,010 | $24.04 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $103,080 | $49.56 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $100,730 | $48.43 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2052. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $46,820 a year, or $22.51 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $59,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $59,170 a year. The top 25% earn $49,950 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,780 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $38,830 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 15,830 pharmacy technicians are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.