Quick answer: Illinois employs about 7,650 radiologic technologists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through your state radiologic health or licensing board. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Licensing and Credentials in Illinois
Radiography programs are JRCERT-accredited and certification runs through ARRT. Most states also require a licence that references ARRT certification, but the requirement is not uniform and a few states regulate differently, so the rule has to be checked locally.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with your state radiologic health or licensing board that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 51 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
What Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Earn in Illinois
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians in Illinois earn a median $79,930 per year, below the national median of $80,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Radiologic Technology Pay and Employment in Illinois at a Glance
Metric
Illinois
National
Source
Median annual wage
$79,930
$80,110
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$59,350
$55,980
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$66,000
$64,810
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$97,950
$98,750
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$104,210
$118,660
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
7,650
230,490
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.85
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
4.3%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How Illinois Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The Illinois median of $79,930 sits below the national median of $80,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.85 puts Illinois slightly below the national average, so the occupation is a little less common here than in the typical state (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Imaging jobs sit where the hospitals and outpatient imaging centers are, so the metro picture matters more than the statewide one.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Wages by Metro Area in Illinois
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), radiologic technologists and technicians wages in Illinois vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
5,650
$82,140
$83,590
$60,130
$106,150
St. Louis
2,190
$76,390
$74,990
$59,600
$97,290
Peoria
310
$76,490
$74,070
$57,720
$94,630
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
280
$64,580
$67,560
$51,860
$80,140
Rockford
260
$75,500
$73,910
$49,340
$98,420
Champaign-Urbana
210
$66,760
$74,480
$59,680
$99,980
Springfield
210
$77,800
$73,490
$58,050
$100,080
Bloomington
140
$74,590
$74,760
$58,710
$100,780
Paducah
120
$75,200
$74,090
$52,000
$99,700
Cape Girardeau
100
$65,220
$66,700
$50,470
$84,190
Kankakee
70
$75,620
$77,570
$51,850
$100,300
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do radiologic technologists make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for radiologic technologists in Illinois is $79,930, below the national median of $80,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $66,000 at the 25th percentile to $97,950 at the 75th.
How many radiologic technologists work in Illinois?
Illinois holds about 7,650 radiologic technologist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 230,490, and BLS projects about 12,900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a radiologic technologist in Illinois?
Radiography programs are JRCERT-accredited and certification runs through ARRT. Most states also require a licence that references ARRT certification, but the requirement is not uniform and a few states regulate differently, so the rule has to be checked locally. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with your state radiologic health or licensing board before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn a JRCERT-accredited associate degree online while working in Illinois?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies your state radiologic health or licensing board.
What is the highest-paying area of Illinois for radiologic technologists?
Among Illinois metro areas with published data, Chicago reports the highest median at $82,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is Illinois a good state for radiologic technologists?
On pay, the state median of $79,930 sits below the national $80,110 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.85 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Radiologic Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2034), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
