Biological Scientists, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,090 a year or less, while the top 10% make $131,340 or more. The middle half of other biological scientists in Chicago earn between $64,840 and $106,880.
- $60K10th
- $65K25th
- $86KMedian
- $107K75th
- $131K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,030 | $7,836 | $45.21 |
| Median | $85,680 | $7,140 | $41.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,840 | $5,403 | $31.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,880 | $8,907 | $51.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Biological Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $94,030, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $70,467 a year, or $5,872 a month and $2,710 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% 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 | $72,189 | $6,016 |
| Working in IL | $70,467 | $5,872 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for other biological scientists? 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 $94,030 buys what about $90,767 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 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Biological Scientists, All Other salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$94,030
- Champaign$85,610
Highest-paying cities for other biological scientists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($148,020).
- San Francisco, CA$148,020
- San Jose, CA$142,300
- New Haven, CT$128,520
- Portland, ME$127,030
- Dayton, OH$126,160
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Biological Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other biological scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$45.21 an hour on average, and $41.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other biological scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,090 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,840, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other biological scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $70,467 a year ($5,872 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,030.
Do other biological scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($110,103).
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 19-1029; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- 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 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.