Medical Transcriptionists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $52,050 or more. The middle half of medical transcriptionists in Chicago earn between $31,760 and $49,530.
- $28K10th
- $32K25th
- $39KMedian
- $50K75th
- $52K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $40,680 | $3,390 | $19.56 |
| Median | $38,700 | $3,225 | $18.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,760 | $2,647 | $15.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $49,530 | $4,128 | $23.81 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Medical Transcriptionists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Medical transcriptionists in Chicago earn 8% less than the Illinois average ($44,420) and about the same as the U.S. average ($41,710). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $40,410.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $40,680 | $38,700 | $27,850 | $52,050 | 720 |
| Illinois | $44,420 | $45,490 | $31,760 | $55,070 | 970 |
| United States | $41,710 | $40,410 | $28,250 | $55,950 | 41,550 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Medical Transcriptionists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $40,680, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $32,994 a year, or $2,749 a month and $1,269 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $33,676 | $2,806 |
| Working in IL | $32,994 | $2,749 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for medical transcriptionists? 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 $40,680 buys what about $39,268 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Medical Transcriptionists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($46,780).
- Peoria$46,780
- Chicago$40,680
- Springfield$40,520
Highest-paying cities for medical transcriptionists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,530).
- San Jose, CA$61,530
- San Francisco, CA$55,750
- Portland, ME$54,920
- Minneapolis, MN$54,160
- Chico, CA$54,060
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Medical Transcriptionists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do medical transcriptionists make an hour in Chicago?
$19.56 an hour on average, and $18.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level medical transcriptionists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the medical transcriptionists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $32,994 a year ($2,749 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $40,680.
Do medical transcriptionists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($41,710).
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 31-9094; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.60, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.60).
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