Sound Engineering Technicians pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,730 or more. The middle half of sound engineering technicians in Chicago earn between $44,640 and $90,780.
- $31K10th
- $45K25th
- $73KMedian
- $91K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $70,300 | $5,858 | $33.80 |
| Median | $73,140 | $6,095 | $35.16 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,640 | $3,720 | $21.46 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $90,780 | $7,565 | $43.64 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sound Engineering Technicians pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Sound engineering technicians in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($69,840) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($81,390). At the median the gap is +0% against the U.S. median of $73,130.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $70,300 | $73,140 | $31,200 | $124,730 | 450 |
| Illinois | $69,840 | $73,130 | $31,200 | $113,460 | 570 |
| United States | $81,390 | $73,130 | $37,570 | $137,370 | 13,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sound Engineering Technicians salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $70,300, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $54,947 a year, or $4,579 a month and $2,113 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 | $56,207 | $4,684 |
| Working in IL | $54,947 | $4,579 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for sound engineering 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 $70,300 buys what about $67,860 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Sound Engineering Technicians salary in nearby metro areas
- Milwaukee, WI$54,900
- Grand Rapids, MI$52,770
- Detroit, MI$62,650
- St. Louis, MO$68,470
- Cincinnati, OH$59,270
- Louisville, KY$69,600
Highest-paying cities for sound engineering technicians
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($108,850).
- San Francisco, CA$108,850
- New York, NY$101,120
- Nashville, TN$94,530
- Washington, DC$90,620
- Boston, MA$89,430
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Sound Engineering Technicians salary in Chicago: questions
How much do sound engineering technicians make an hour in Chicago?
$33.80 an hour on average, and $35.17 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sound engineering technicians salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sound engineering technicians take-home pay in Chicago?
About $54,947 a year ($4,579 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $70,300.
Do sound engineering technicians earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($81,390).
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 27-4014; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.3%.
- 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 1.18, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.