How to Become an EKG Technician in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 1,710 ekg technicians earning a median $61,870 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians”). Training as an EKG Technician here means completing a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians.

Key Facts

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Compare EKG Technician Schools in Illinois

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)TuitionMedian grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
155.7Contact school for pricing$48,98036%Yes*264 mi
255.1$4,530 - $13,800$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
352.5$5,184 - $17,359$52,34625%Yes*150 mi
452.2Contact school for pricing$53,22317%Yes*248 mi
549.2$5,154 - $15,370$53,36938%Yes*169 mi
648.6Contact school for pricing$45,069Not reportedYes*81 mi
748.5Contact school for pricing$56,31424%Yes*256 mi
847.7Contact school for pricing$55,98425%—73 mi
940.9Contact school for pricing$47,31532%—70 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois employs approximately 1,710 workers in the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category (SOC 29-2031), with a median annual wage of $61,870 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 3,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become an EKG Technician in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track ekg technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2031). Actual ekg technician earnings may vary.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: EKG technician program (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians
  • Exam: CET or equivalent
  • Median wage (Illinois): $61,870 per year (based on related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category) 1

Quick Answers About How to Become an EKG Technician in Illinois

How to become an EKG Technician in Illinois? Complete a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a short EKG or cardiac-monitor program plus CET or equivalent; most states do not license EKG technicians. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CET or equivalent. See the licensing section below.

What do ekg technicians earn in Illinois? The BLS does not track ekg technician wages separately. Based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category, the median annual wage in Illinois is $61,870, with entry-level wages around $40,550 and experienced workers earning $105,150 or more 1.

How to Become an EKG Technician in Illinois

  1. Complete a short EKG program. Finish a weeks-to-months cardiac-monitor or EKG program. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  2. Earn CET or the employer-required credential. Pass CET or the exam the employer uses.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

EKG Technician License Requirements in Illinois

Most states do not license EKG technicians. Employers expect a short program plus CET or equivalent.

Typical path

  1. Complete a short program.

  2. Earn CET or equivalent.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

EKG Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

EKG Technician Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Note: The BLS does not track ekg technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2031).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), cardiovascular technologists and technicians wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin1,340$58,390$70,810$43,360$105,490
St. Louis340$76,700$75,850$38,640$103,930
Rockford110$66,450$67,560$36,930$102,380
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island50$75,480$73,260$37,550$100,500
Springfield50$50,730$60,110$39,740$97,030
Cape Girardeau30$47,520$55,280$36,410$82,500
Champaign-UrbanaN/A$60,630$63,850$39,690$98,110

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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for ekg technicians in Illinois? Illinois employs approximately 1,710 workers in the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do ekg technicians earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for ekg technicians in Illinois is $61,870 (based on the related “Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians” category), which is $5,390 below the national median of $67,260 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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Citations

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/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)