Biochemists and Biophysicists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $173,140 or more. The middle half of biochemists and biophysicists in Chicago earn between $63,730 and $128,020.
- $55K10th
- $64K25th
- $86KMedian
- $128K75th
- $173K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $99,340 | $8,278 | $47.76 |
| Median | $85,780 | $7,148 | $41.24 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,730 | $5,311 | $30.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,020 | $10,668 | $61.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $99,340, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $73,939 a year, or $6,162 a month and $2,844 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $75,765 | $6,314 |
| Working in IL | $73,939 | $6,162 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for biochemists and biophysicists? 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 $99,340 buys what about $95,893 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in nearby metro areas
- Kalamazoo, MI$75,710
- Madison, WI$120,960
- Lansing, MI$81,000
- Ann Arbor, MI$114,540
- Detroit, MI$104,040
- St. Louis, MO$89,910
Highest-paying cities for biochemists and biophysicists
Jacksonville, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($170,200).
- Jacksonville, FL$170,200
- San Francisco, CA$168,650
- Knoxville, TN$165,540
- Riverside, CA$160,890
- Dallas, TX$155,950
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Biochemists and Biophysicists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make an hour in Chicago?
$47.76 an hour on average, and $41.24 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level biochemists and biophysicists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the biochemists and biophysicists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $73,939 a year ($6,162 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $99,340.
Do biochemists and biophysicists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 25% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($132,380).
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 19-1021; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 0.17, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.17).
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