Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary in Illinois: $78,584 (2026)

Quick Answer:Across Illinois's 65 metropolitan areas, the average median medical and clinical laboratory technologist pay sits at $78,584/year heading into 2026 — a figure projected from 2025 BLS OEWS wage data for SOC 29-2010. Because Illinois sits at BEA RPP 97.1 (3% below the U.S. baseline), that statewide median translates to roughly $80,931 in nationally-comparable purchasing power. Highest-paying metros: Rockford ($80,963), Bloomington ($80,062), Naperville ($79,216).

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary in Illinois - 2025 BLS Data Infographic — Illinois medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary overview (2026)

$78,584

Avg Median Salary

$37.78

Avg Hourly Rate

10,065

Metro Employed

Cities

In Illinois, the projected median salary for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in 2026 is $78,584, which is 14.3% higher than the national median of $68,734. This higher salary reflects factors such as the demand for specialized healthcare services and the cost of living in urban areas. Rockford offers the highest average salary at $83,424, while Rock Island has the lowest at $52,277, resulting in a significant salary gap of $31,147. The disparity can be attributed to local economic conditions, healthcare facility types, and demand for services in different regions. In Illinois, licensure requirements vary, with technologists needing to be certified by recognized bodies, which enhances their qualifications and earning potential. The annual growth rate for this occupation is projected at 3.04%, indicating a steady increase in demand for skilled professionals. With 10,065 employed in the state, job opportunities will expand notably in cities like Bloomington ($82,496), Naperville ($81,624), Chicago ($80,781), and Elgin ($80,061). As healthcare continues to evolve, factors such as an aging population and advances in medical technology will drive the need for laboratory technologists, supporting a positive job market outlook.

Illinois Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary Range

Entry Level (10th %ile)

$48,012

avg across 65 cities

Median

$78,584

state average

Top Earners (90th %ile)

$109,442

avg across 65 cities

Overall salary range in Illinois: $31,533 (lowest entry-level) to $126,518 (highest top earner)

Illinois vs National Average

Illinois

$78,584

National Median

$68,734

Illinois medical and clinical laboratory technologists earn 14.33% more than the national median (+$9,850/year difference).

Illinois Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist Salary Distribution (2026)

Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologist salaries in Illinois range from $48,012 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $109,442 (top earners, 90th percentile), with a median of $78,584. The Illinois median is $9,850 above the US national median of $68,734. The average hourly rate is $37.78/hr. Approximately 10,065 medical and clinical laboratory technologists are employed across 65 cities.

2019 BLS Actual

$51,518

2025 BLS Actual

$76,266

2026 Current Est.

$78,584

2019–2027 Growth

+57.2%

Salary Trajectory for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists in Illinois (2019–2027)

2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.04% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected

Year	Annual Salary	Status
2019	$51,518	Actual
2020	$52,564	Actual
2021	$58,013	Actual
2022	$61,507	Actual
2023	$63,495	Actual
2024	$67,202	Actual
2025	$76,266	Actual
2026(current)	$78,584	Estimated
2027	$80,973	Projected

Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Illinois metropolitan area, the median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary grew 48.0% from $51,518 (2019) to $76,266 (2025). At a 3.04% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $80,973 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,455 (57.17%) 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 3.04% 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

Rockford

230 employed · $40.10/hr

$83,424

+6.16% vs avg

Bloomington

150 employed · $39.66/hr

$82,496

+4.98% vs avg

Naperville

23 employed · $39.24/hr

$81,624

+3.87% vs avg

Chicago

7,620 employed · $38.84/hr

$80,781

+2.80% vs avg

Elgin

16 employed · $38.50/hr

$80,061

+1.88% vs avg

Lowest Paying Cities in Illinois

City	Median Salary	vs State Avg	Hourly
Rock Island	$52,277	-33.48%	$25.13
Moline	$53,100	-32.43%	$25.53
Kankakee	$66,844	-14.94%	$32.14
Carbondale	$68,094	-13.35%	$32.74
Decatur	$68,155	-13.27%	$32.77

Best Value Cities for Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists in Illinois

When adjusted for local cost of living, these Illinois cities offer the most purchasing power for medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

City	Nominal Salary	CoL Index	Adjusted Salary
Rockford	$83,424	92.154	$90,527
Bloomington	$82,496	93.537	$88,196
Naperville	$81,624	97.1	$84,062
Elgin	$80,061	97.1	$82,452
Peoria	$72,699	91.231	$79,687

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)	$48,012	$23.08	10th percentile, new graduates
Mid Career (3-7 years)	$78,584	$37.78	50th percentile, median salary
Experienced (7+ years)	$109,442	$52.62	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	Rockford	$83,424	$40.10	$51,280	$108,797	230
2	Bloomington	$82,496	$39.66	$61,153	$113,886	150
3	Naperville	$81,624	$39.24	$47,825	$126,518	23
4	Chicago	$80,781	$38.84	$48,692	$110,118	7,620
5	Elgin	$80,061	$38.50	$50,516	$124,094	16
6	Orland Park	$73,714	$35.44	$45,753	$114,256	9
7	Bolingbrook	$73,396	$35.29	$42,596	$113,764	19
8	Champaign	$73,224	$35.21	$44,652	$113,498	14
9	Palatine	$72,844	$35.02	$43,507	$112,908	16
10	Waukegan	$72,804	$35.00	$43,716	$112,846	18
11	Peoria	$72,699	$34.95	$51,094	$103,161	300
12	Mount Prospect	$72,666	$34.93	$43,410	$112,632	13
13	Hoffman Estates	$72,430	$34.82	$42,888	$112,266	8
14	Evanston	$72,292	$34.76	$42,584	$112,052	16
15	Joliet	$72,230	$34.72	$45,032	$111,956	25
16	Oak Park	$72,170	$34.69	$42,319	$111,864	10
17	Danville	$72,021	$34.62	$45,743	$109,791	5
18	Addison	$71,869	$34.55	$45,390	$111,398	6
19	Berwyn	$71,836	$34.54	$41,665	$111,346	12
20	Aurora	$71,790	$34.52	$44,082	$111,275	44
21	Tinley Park	$71,779	$34.51	$46,913	$111,257	8
22	Northbrook	$71,706	$34.48	$44,937	$111,144	8
23	St. Charles	$71,660	$34.46	$44,908	$108,530	7
24	Gurnee	$71,644	$34.45	$44,869	$108,649	8
25	Arlington Heights	$71,543	$34.39	$46,676	$110,892	18
26	Wheaton	$71,451	$34.35	$46,470	$110,749	14
27	Woodridge	$71,429	$34.34	$44,301	$107,726	9
28	Schaumburg	$71,393	$34.32	$46,268	$110,660	13
29	Buffalo Grove	$71,373	$34.31	$47,912	$110,628	7
30	Bartlett	$71,367	$34.31	$44,234	$107,686	9
31	Lake in the Hills	$71,102	$34.18	$43,554	$110,207	6
32	Collinsville	$71,090	$34.18	$43,603	$109,245	5
33	Skokie	$71,071	$34.17	$45,550	$110,160	12
34	Springfield	$71,028	$34.15	$43,798	$109,889	270
35	Wheeling	$70,967	$34.12	$46,965	$109,998	6
36	Carpentersville	$70,887	$34.09	$46,855	$109,876	8
37	Oak Lawn	$70,840	$34.05	$44,821	$109,803	14
38	O'Fallon	$70,826	$34.05	$43,002	$109,780	6
39	Quincy	$70,548	$33.92	$42,377	$109,350	6
40	Algonquin	$70,548	$33.92	$42,079	$109,350	5
41	Carol Stream	$70,487	$33.89	$42,238	$109,254	10
42	Normal	$70,483	$33.89	$42,268	$109,249	8
43	Lombard	$70,441	$33.87	$42,136	$109,184	8
44	Cicero	$70,368	$33.83	$44,072	$109,071	21
45	Plainfield	$70,295	$33.80	$47,308	$108,958	11
46	Des Plaines	$70,282	$33.79	$43,883	$108,936	12
47	Urbana	$70,261	$33.78	$47,526	$108,904	6
48	Oswego	$70,013	$33.66	$46,657	$108,520	7
49	DeKalb	$69,957	$33.63	$46,822	$108,433	9
50	Park Ridge	$69,900	$33.60	$46,693	$108,346	7
51	Hanover Park	$69,871	$33.59	$46,627	$108,301	6
52	Glenview	$69,866	$33.59	$46,614	$108,293	12
53	Romeoville	$69,584	$33.46	$45,966	$107,855	7
54	Streamwood	$69,488	$33.41	$45,748	$107,707	8
55	Downers Grove	$69,358	$33.34	$45,451	$107,506	11
56	Belleville	$69,342	$33.33	$45,413	$107,321	10
57	Crystal Lake	$69,228	$33.28	$45,156	$107,304	9
58	Galesburg	$68,964	$33.16	$44,556	$106,894	4
59	Calumet City	$68,941	$33.15	$44,505	$105,942	7
60	Elmhurst	$68,772	$33.07	$44,124	$105,533	9
61	Decatur	$68,155	$32.77	$43,874	$97,820	50
62	Carbondale	$68,094	$32.74	$47,465	$103,811	5
63	Kankakee	$66,844	$32.14	$41,450	$104,635	820
64	Moline	$53,100	$25.53	$33,185	$80,708	10
65	Rock Island	$52,277	$25.13	$31,533	$79,580	5

More Illinois Salary Data

Hourly Rates

Explore medical and clinical laboratory technologist hourly pay in Illinois cities.

Rockford →Bloomington →Naperville →

Entry Level

Starting salaries for new medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Rockford →Bloomington →Naperville →

Senior / Experienced

Top earner salaries for experienced medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

Rockford →Bloomington →Naperville →

Compare Cities in Illinois

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

View all comparisons →

Explore More Medical and Clinical Laboratory 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 medical and clinical laboratory technologists make in Illinois in 2026?

The average median medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in Illinois is $78,584/year across 65 metro areas, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Salaries range from $52,277 in Rock Island to $83,424 in Rockford. This makes Illinois one of the higher-paying states, at 14.33% above the national median of $68,734. The state employs approximately 10,065 medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

What is the highest paying city for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in Illinois?

Rockford offers the highest medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in Illinois at $83,424/year ($40.10/hr), based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). The top 3 highest-paying cities are Rockford ($83,424), Bloomington ($82,496), Naperville ($81,624). Higher pay in these metros is typically driven by cost of living, demand for clinical laboratory science services, and competition among employers for licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologists.

How does Illinois medical and clinical laboratory technologist pay compare to the national average?

Illinois's average medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary of $78,584 is 14.33% above the national median of $68,734 in 2026. The state employs approximately 10,065 medical and clinical laboratory 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 medical and clinical laboratory technologist salary in Illinois?

Entry-level medical and clinical laboratory technologists (10th percentile) in Illinois earn approximately $48,012/year on average, based on estimated 2026 (projected from 2025 BLS data). Starting salaries range from $31,533 in lower-paying areas to $61,153 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 medical and clinical laboratory technologists are employed in Illinois?

Illinois employs approximately 10,065 medical and clinical laboratory technologists across 65 metropolitan areas, based on the latest BLS data. This makes Illinois one of the larger employers of medical and clinical laboratory technologists nationally. Demand continues to grow as the clinical laboratory science field expands and the population ages.

Which Illinois city offers the best value for medical and clinical laboratory technologists?

When adjusted for cost of living, Rockford offers the highest purchasing power for medical and clinical laboratory technologists in Illinois, with an adjusted salary of $90,527 (nominal: $83,424, CoL index: 92.154). This means your dollar goes 9% further compared to the national average, making it an attractive option for maximizing real income.

Written by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP)

Career Analyst

Alexandra has 10 years of experience in clinical laboratory science. She specializes in molecular diagnostics. She works at a large metropolitan hospital.

Clinically reviewed by Jerome Patel, BS, MT(ASCP)Data verified by Fatima Hussain, MS, CLS

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 3.04% 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 medical and clinical laboratory technologist compensation across Illinois. State averages are employment-weighted across 65 metro areas — larger metro areas with more medical and clinical laboratory 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 3.04%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for medical and clinical laboratory technologists (SOC 29-2010).

Compiled and verified by Alexandra Choi, MS, MT(ASCP), a licensed medical and clinical laboratory technologist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov

Last verified: June 10, 2026

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