Forensic Science Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,790 or more. The middle half of forensic science technicians in Chicago earn between $75,000 and $129,590.
- $66K10th
- $75K25th
- $113KMedian
- $130K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,710 | $8,809 | $50.82 |
| Median | $112,790 | $9,399 | $54.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36.06 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,590 | $10,799 | $62.30 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Forensic Science Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $105,710, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $78,105 a year, or $6,509 a month and $3,004 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $80,056 | $6,671 |
| Working in IL | $78,105 | $6,509 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for forensic science technicians? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $105,710 buys what about $102,042 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Forensic Science Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$76,870
- Madison, WI$69,000
- Grand Rapids, MI$83,390
- Fort Wayne, IN$72,500
- Indianapolis, IN$74,480
- Lansing, MI$85,820
Highest-paying cities for forensic science technicians
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($132,690).
- San Jose, CA$132,690
- San Francisco, CA$127,560
- Los Angeles, CA$107,010
- Chicago, IL$105,710
- Sacramento, CA$105,420
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Forensic Science Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do forensic science technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$50.82 an hour on average, and $54.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level forensic science technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the forensic science technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $78,105 a year ($6,509 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,710.
Do forensic science technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($80,977).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4092; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.3%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.46, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.46).
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