Pharmacy Technician salary in Illinois
Pharmacy Technicians in Illinois earn a median of $46,650 a year ($22.43 an hour), based on BLS data for 21,340 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,260 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $45,750. Illinois ranks 18th of 51 states for pharmacy technicians pay. There are 3.5 pharmacy technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $45,930, close to the median.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,550 | $17.57 |
| 25th percentile | $38,190 | $18.36 |
| Median | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| 75th percentile | $49,150 | $23.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $58,260 | $28.01 |
| Average (mean) | $45,930 | $22.08 |
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 | $3,887.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,943.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,794.23 |
| Weekly | $897.12 |
| Hourly | $22.43 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Technician salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $46,820 | 15,830 |
| Peoria, IL | $46,110 | 590 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $45,220 | 4,980 |
| Rockford, IL | $45,170 | 560 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $45,080 | 550 |
| Bloomington, IL | $42,990 | 270 |
| Springfield, IL | $42,160 | 570 |
| Decatur, IL | $40,560 | 180 |
| Kankakee, IL | $39,190 | 160 |
| 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 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,000 | $36.06 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $71,950 | $34.59 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $46,200 | $22.21 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $56,440 | $27.14 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $46,440 | $22.33 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $49,930 | $24.00 |
| Paramedic | $60,660 | $29.16 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | $31.08 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $100,660 | $48.40 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $43,960 | $21.14 |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist | $95,380 | $45.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in Illinois is $46,650 a year, or $22.43 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,550 for the lowest-paid 10% to $58,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in Illinois?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in Illinois earn at least $58,260 a year. The top 25% earn $49,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,550 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $38,190 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in Illinois?
About 21,340 pharmacy technicians are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.