Surgical Technologist Salary in Illinois: $68,316 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median surgical technologist pay sits at $68,316/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2055. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $70,356 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Bloomington ($68,140), Naperville ($67,053), Chicago ($66,360).

Surgical Technologist Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois surgical technologist salary overview (2026)

$68,316

Avg Median Salary

$32.85

Avg Hourly Rate

3,758

Metro Employed

Cities

In 2026, the average median salary for surgical technologists in Illinois is projected to be $68,316, slightly higher than the national median of $68,141, showing a modest advantage of 0.3%. The disparity in pay across the state varies significantly, with Bloomington offering the highest average salary at $71,820, while Carbondale presents the lowest at $61,371. This difference of $10,449 can be attributed to factors such as the cost of living, availability of hospitals and surgical centers, and demand for healthcare services in various regions. Illinois has specific licensing requirements and scope of practice laws that can influence earning potential. The state's job market is witnessing a growth rate of 5.40% annually, reflecting a robust demand for surgical technologists, driven by a combination of an aging population and advancements in medical technology. Key cities projected to have competitive salaries include Naperville at $70,674, Chicago at $69,943, Elgin at $69,319, and Decatur at $66,437. Overall, the landscape for surgical technologists in Illinois presents solid earning potential and promising job stability in the coming years.

Illinois Surgical Technologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$51,629

avg across 65 cities

Median

$68,316

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$95,849

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $43,109 (lowest entry-level) to $109,544 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$68,316

National Median

$68,141

Illinois surgical technologists earn 0.26% more than the national median (+$175/year difference).

Illinois Surgical Technologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Surgical Technologist salaries in Illinois range from $51,629 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $95,849 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $68,316. The Illinois median is $175 above the US national median of $68,141. The average hourly rate is $32.85/hr. Approximately 3,758 surgical technologists are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$48,679

2025 BLS Actual

$64,816

2026 Current Est.

$68,316

2019–2027 Growth

+47.9%

Salary Trajectory for Surgical Technologists in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.40% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$48,679	Actual
2020	$50,713	Actual
2021	$49,162	Actual
2022	$55,574	Actual
2023	$58,932	Actual
2024	$62,778	Actual
2025	$64,816	Actual
2026(current)	$68,316	Estimated
2027	$72,005	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median surgical technologist salary grew 33.1% from $48,679 (2019) to $64,816 (2025). At a 5.40% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $72,005 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,326 (47.92%) from 2019.

Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Illinois metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.40% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 5 Highest Paying Cities in Illinois

Bloomington

80 employed · $34.53/hr

$71,820

+5.13% vs avg

Naperville

23 employed · $33.98/hr

$70,674

+3.45% vs avg

Chicago

2,530 employed · $33.63/hr

$69,943

+2.38% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $33.33/hr

$69,319

+1.47% vs avg

Decatur

13 employed · $31.94/hr

$66,437

-2.75% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Carbondale	$61,371	-10.17%	$29.50
Elmhurst	$61,983	-9.27%	$29.80
Calumet City	$62,135	-9.05%	$29.87
Galesburg	$62,155	-9.02%	$29.88
Crystal Lake	$62,395	-8.67%	$30.00

Best Value Cities for Surgical Technologists in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for surgical technologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Bloomington	$71,820	93.537	$76,782
Naperville	$70,674	97.1	$72,785
Elgin	$69,319	97.1	$71,389
Springfield	$65,970	92.745	$71,131
Rockford	$65,074	92.154	$70,614

Adjusted salary = nominal salary × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average. Lower index = lower cost of living.

Salary by Experience Level in Illinois

Experience Level	Estimated Annual	Est. Hourly	Description
Entry Level (0-2 years)	$51,629	$24.82	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$68,316	$32.85	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$95,849	$46.08	90th percentile, top earners

Estimates based on BLS percentile data averaged across Illinois metro areas. Individual pay varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

All 65 Cities in Illinois

#	City	Median Salary	Hourly	Entry (P10)	Top (P90)	Employed
1	Bloomington	$71,820	$34.53	$51,614	$89,063	80
2	Naperville	$70,674	$33.98	$47,803	$109,544	23
3	Chicago	$69,943	$33.63	$53,322	$99,108	2,530
4	Elgin	$69,319	$33.33	$50,010	$106,648	16
5	Decatur	$66,437	$31.94	$47,299	$97,796	13
6	Orland Park	$66,437	$31.94	$47,367	$97,966	9
7	Bolingbrook	$66,151	$31.80	$44,496	$96,963	19
8	Champaign	$65,995	$31.73	$46,334	$98,657	14
9	Springfield	$65,970	$31.71	$53,016	$83,150	130
10	Palatine	$65,653	$31.57	$45,270	$97,618	16
11	Waukegan	$65,617	$31.55	$45,455	$101,660	18
12	Mount Prospect	$65,492	$31.48	$45,168	$96,888	13
13	Hoffman Estates	$65,279	$31.39	$44,679	$96,312	8
14	Evanston	$65,155	$31.32	$44,393	$99,850	16
15	Joliet	$65,099	$31.29	$46,475	$99,178	25
16	Rockford	$65,074	$31.28	$50,307	$82,012	160
17	Oak Park	$65,046	$31.27	$44,144	$95,499	10
18	Moline	$64,918	$31.21	$46,748	$92,038	10
19	Danville	$64,912	$31.21	$47,403	$92,322	5
20	Addison	$64,774	$31.15	$47,071	$94,307	6
21	Berwyn	$64,745	$31.12	$43,460	$94,456	12
22	Aurora	$64,703	$31.10	$45,583	$97,783	44
23	Tinley Park	$64,692	$31.10	$48,251	$98,386	8
24	Northbrook	$64,627	$31.07	$46,649	$93,643	8
25	St. Charles	$64,586	$31.05	$46,619	$91,217	7
26	Gurnee	$64,570	$31.04	$46,583	$91,325	8
27	Arlington Heights	$64,481	$31.00	$48,019	$97,640	18
28	Wheaton	$64,397	$30.96	$47,825	$97,350	14
29	Woodridge	$64,377	$30.95	$46,052	$90,513	9
30	Schaumburg	$64,346	$30.93	$47,639	$99,341	13
31	Buffalo Grove	$64,327	$30.92	$49,301	$96,581	7
32	Bartlett	$64,321	$30.92	$45,987	$90,484	9
33	Lake in the Hills	$64,082	$30.81	$45,350	$95,737	6
34	Collinsville	$64,073	$30.81	$45,395	$91,914	5
35	Skokie	$64,055	$30.80	$46,964	$95,950	12
36	Wheeling	$63,961	$30.76	$48,413	$95,317	6
37	Rock Island	$63,914	$30.72	$44,633	$90,763	5
38	Carpentersville	$63,889	$30.71	$48,308	$95,231	8
39	Oak Lawn	$63,847	$30.69	$46,289	$95,434	14
40	O'Fallon	$63,833	$30.69	$44,830	$94,880	6
41	Quincy	$63,585	$30.57	$44,244	$94,184	6
42	Algonquin	$63,585	$30.57	$43,975	$94,184	5
43	Carol Stream	$63,529	$30.54	$44,112	$93,994	10
44	Normal	$63,526	$30.54	$43,958	$94,325	8
45	Lombard	$63,488	$30.52	$44,017	$93,853	8
46	Cicero	$63,421	$30.49	$45,574	$93,966	21
47	Plainfield	$63,356	$30.46	$48,666	$93,403	11
48	Des Plaines	$63,343	$30.45	$45,397	$93,698	12
49	Urbana	$63,325	$30.45	$48,859	$93,299	6
50	Kankakee	$63,177	$30.38	$43,109	$73,717	40
51	Oswego	$63,101	$30.33	$48,054	$92,538	7
52	DeKalb	$63,050	$30.31	$48,198	$94,597	9
53	Park Ridge	$63,000	$30.29	$48,076	$92,193	7
54	Hanover Park	$62,974	$30.28	$48,016	$94,336	6
55	Glenview	$62,969	$30.27	$48,003	$94,318	12
56	Romeoville	$62,715	$30.15	$47,396	$91,232	7
57	Peoria	$62,681	$30.13	$48,336	$78,544	180
58	Streamwood	$62,629	$30.11	$47,190	$93,002	8
59	Downers Grove	$62,512	$30.05	$46,912	$92,760	11
60	Belleville	$62,496	$30.05	$46,876	$90,340	10
61	Crystal Lake	$62,395	$30.00	$46,635	$92,364	9
62	Galesburg	$62,155	$29.88	$46,070	$91,557	4
63	Calumet City	$62,135	$29.87	$46,023	$89,136	7
64	Elmhurst	$61,983	$29.80	$45,665	$88,782	9
65	Carbondale	$61,371	$29.50	$48,804	$87,485	5

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore surgical technologist hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Bloomington →Naperville →Chicago →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new surgical technologists.

Bloomington →Naperville →Chicago →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced surgical technologists.

Bloomington →Naperville →Chicago →

Compare Cities in Illinois

Chicago, ILvsPeoria, IL Chicago, ILvsRockford, IL Chicago, ILvsSpringfield, IL Chicago, ILvsBloomington, IL Chicago, ILvsAurora, IL Chicago, ILvsKankakee, IL

View all comparisons →

Explore More Surgical Technologist Salary Data

National OverviewMedian salary & full US data Entry-Level SalariesStarting pay & new grad earnings Hourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates & part-time income Highest Paying StatesTop states ranked by salary

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do surgical technologists make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median surgical technologist salary in Illinois is $68,316/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $61,371 in Carbondale to $71,820 in Bloomington. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 0.26% above the national median of $68,141. The state employs approximately 3,758 surgical technologists.

What is the highest paying city for surgical technologists in Illinois?

Bloomington offers the highest surgical technologist salary in Illinois at $71,820/year ($34.53/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Bloomington ($71,820), Naperville ($70,674), Chicago ($69,943). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for surgical services services, and competition among employers for licensed surgical technologists.

How does Illinois surgical technologist pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average surgical technologist salary of $68,316 is 0.26% above the national median of $68,141 in 2026. The state employs approximately 3,758 surgical technologists across 65 metropolitan areas. When comparing salaries, consider cost-of-living differences — a lower nominal salary in an affordable area may provide better purchasing power than a higher salary in an expensive metro.

What is the entry-level surgical technologist salary in Illinois?

Entry-level surgical technologists (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $51,629/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $43,109 in lower-paying areas to $53,322 in the highest-paying metros. New graduates should expect salaries at the lower end and can typically reach the area median within 3–5 years of clinical experience.

How many surgical technologists are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 3,758 surgical technologists across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. Job availability varies by metro area, with larger cities offering more opportunities. Demand continues to grow as the surgical services field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for surgical technologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Bloomington offers the highest purchasing power for surgical technologists in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $76,782 (nominal: $71,820, CoL index: 93.537). This means your dollar goes 7% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST

Career Analyst

Jessica has over 10 years of experience as a surgical technologist. She specializes in orthopedic surgical procedures. Jessica works at a community hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Carlos Ramirez, AAS, CSTData verified by Fatima Ali, BS, CST

Methodology & Data Source

Statewide salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.40% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each metro area's reported salary to estimate current 2026 surgical technologist compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more surgical technologistscontribute proportionally more to the average, producing figures that better reflect typical compensation. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (2019–2025). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.

2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.40%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for surgical technologists (SOC 29-2055).

Compiled and verified by Jessica Thompson, BA, CST, a licensed surgical technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

Share:Facebook X LinkedIn Email