PayByState

Illinois · BLS SOC 29-2052

Pharmacy Technician salary in Illinois

Median $41,510 · Top 10% earn $57,900+ · Roughly 17,612 workers in Illinois. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Illinois median
$41,510
$19.96/hr
Top 10%
$57,900
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$29,750
Entry-level range
Real pay
$41,761
CoL-adjusted (RPP 99.4)

Illinois pays close to the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians — $41,510 versus the national median of $40,300. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 17,612 pharmacy technicians.

What drives pharmacy technician pay in Illinois

Illinois requires registration with the IDFPR. Chicago-area teaching hospitals and Walgreens HQ employment are the largest concentrations.

Illinois ranks #18 of 50 states

Where Illinois sits in the national distribution for pharmacy technician pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Illinois
#16 Nevada $41,910 +$400
#15 New Hampshire $42,320 +$810
#14 Rhode Island $42,320 +$810
#18 Illinois (this page) $41,510 —
#19 Delaware $40,700 −$810
#20 Arizona $39,900 −$1,610
#21 Maine $39,900 −$1,610
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Illinois

The typical path is a high school diploma + employer training or postsecondary certificate, taking about 9 months. Tuition ranges from $600 (community college) to $8,000 (private accelerated). On the Illinois median of $41,510, payback periods are typically 0.8 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Pharmacy Technician salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Illinois selected.

Pharmacy Technician salary in Illinois — FAQ

What is the average pharmacy technician salary in Illinois?
The median pharmacy technician salary in Illinois is $41,510 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $29,750; the top 10% earn $57,900 or more. About 17,612 people work in this role across the state.
How does Illinois pharmacy technician pay compare to the national average?
Illinois's median of $41,510 is $1,210 above the U.S. national median of $40,300. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 99.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $41,761.
Is pharmacy technician a good career in Illinois?
On the data: Illinois employs roughly 17,612 pharmacy technicians, with a median wage of $41,510 and the top decile clearing $57,900. The role is projected to grow +7% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Illinois?
At the Illinois median of $41,510 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $19.96/hr. The top 10% earn around $27.84/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $14.30/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Illinois-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2052: Pharmacy Technicians), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Illinois's RPP is 99.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.