Surgical Technologist Salary in Illinois (2026) - $62,850/yr
Illinois pays a mean of $62,850/yr, just barely above the national mean. Chicago metro area (approximately $67,210) offers the strongest pay. Illinois requires surgical technologist registration. COL index 101 means real purchasing power closely tracks the nominal salary.
Illinois Highlights
Chicago area employers include Northwestern Medicine (Level I trauma at Northwestern Memorial), Rush University Medical Center (Level I), University of Chicago Medicine, Advocate Health Care (large regional system), and Cook County Health (public, Level I Stroger Hospital). Chicago offers the highest pay within Illinois and strong specialty opportunities in CVOR and neuro at the academic centers.
Licensure: Illinois requires surgical technologist registration. Register with Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) before starting employment. CST credential required for registration. Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax rate.