HVAC/R Technician Salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (2026)
Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology
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Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN HVAC/R Technician Wage Distribution
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders
HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index
Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.
Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix
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HVAC/R Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)
Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and Illinois tax codes.
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Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.
- Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
- FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
- Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
- HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400
HVAC/R Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: Market Snapshot
HVAC/R Technician roles in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN report a median annual wage of $77,960, 27.8% above the national median of $61,010. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $47,460 to $117,940, and HUD’s $1,780 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 27.4% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $27.82 per hour.
Highest-paying metropolitan areas for HVAC/R Technician
| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Vs this market |
|---|---|---|
| Fairbanks-College, AK | $93,820 | +20.3% |
| Anchorage, AK | $85,620 | +9.8% |
| Napa, CA | $84,570 | +8.5% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $82,050 | +5.2% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $80,100 | +2.7% |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $79,510 | +2.0% |
| Peoria, IL | $78,710 | +1.0% |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $78,640 | +0.9% |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,530 | +0.7% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $78,490 | +0.7% |
Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $344,960 | $165.85/hr |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $173,760 | $83.54/hr |
| Financial Manager | $168,810 | $81.16/hr |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $167,040 | $80.31/hr |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | $166,390 | $80.00/hr |
| Marketing Managers | $165,340 | $79.49/hr |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $163,430 | $78.57/hr |
| Sales Managers | $158,690 | $76.29/hr |
| Human Resources Managers | $156,770 | $75.37/hr |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $155,340 | $74.68/hr |
Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 389 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .
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Related Skilled Trades Roles in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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Other Metros for HVAC/R Technician
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HVAC/R Technician median pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $77,960 a year ($37.48/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD. Official 2026 economic data for HVAC/R Technician in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.
Quick answers
The median annual wage is $77,960 ($37.48 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $47,460 and $117,940. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).
On the median wage of $77,960, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $59,961 a year ($4,997 a month) after $17,999 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 23.09%, using 2026 tax rules.