Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links marked with (Ad). If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more

Medical Transcriptionists Salary in Illinois: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Medical Transcriptionists salary really buy you in Illinois?

Illinois is near the US average cost of living

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$45,490
Median annual (2025)
-1.3%
Real Purchasing Power
$44,906
COL-adjusted (RPP=101.3)

Illinois Cost of Living Index

Illinois's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 101.3, meaning prices are 1.3% higher the national average. A Medical Transcriptionists earning $45,490 in Illinois has the equivalent purchasing power of $44,906 in an average-cost US state.

IL: 101.3
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Illinois's cost of living.

Percentile Nominal Salary COL-Adjusted Difference
10th Percentile (P10) $31,760 $31,352 $-407
25th Percentile (P25) $36,070 $35,607 $-462
Median (P50) $45,490 $44,906 $-583
75th Percentile (P75) $50,840 $50,187 $-652
90th Percentile (P90) $55,070 $54,363 $-706
Key Insight

Illinois's cost of living is close to the national average, so $45,490 keeps most of its value at $44,906 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Illinois Sits Near the National Cost Benchmark

RPP 101.3

With an RPP of 101.3, Illinois is within a few percent of the national cost-of-living baseline. Salary adjustment for Medical Transcriptionists is therefore minor — what you earn is close to what you'd keep in real purchasing power.

Minor COL Adjustment for This Salary

-1.3%

After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living, $45,490 nominal nets out to $44,906 in real purchasing power — a small 1.3% loss. The state's cost profile is close enough to average that COL alone shouldn't drive location decisions for this Medical Transcriptionists.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#14 / 50

Illinois sits at #14 of 50 states for Medical Transcriptionists COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Medical Transcriptionists (After Cost of Living)

Where does Medical Transcriptionists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$53,250
RPP 92.3
$52,352
RPP 88.0
3. Wyoming
$52,339
RPP 91.9
$51,207
RPP 97.7
$51,091
RPP 89.8
6. Iowa
$50,916
RPP 88.4
$50,349
RPP 88.7
$48,714
RPP 91.8
9. Maine
$48,214
RPP 100.8
10. Alaska
$47,411
RPP 102.0

Illinois ranks #14 out of 50 states for Medical Transcriptionists after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Medical Transcriptionists take-home pay in Illinois after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Medical Transcriptionists in Illinois after cost of living?

A Medical Transcriptionists in Illinois earns a median salary of $45,490 per year. After adjusting for Illinois's cost of living (RPP=101.3), the real purchasing power is $44,906 — a -1.3% difference.

Is Illinois expensive to live in?

Illinois's cost of living is 1.3% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Illinois is 101.3 (US average = 100).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Medical Transcriptionists in Illinois: $45,490 x (100 / 101.3) = $44,906. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

What To Do Next

Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.

Related Salary Pages

Get Monthly Salary Insights & Career Data

Free data-driven career updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Join career-minded Americans who use data to make smarter decisions. Privacy Policy