Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,540 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,980 or more. The middle half of environmental scientists and specialists, including health in Chicago earn between $61,180 and $128,790.
- $47K10th
- $61K25th
- $85KMedian
- $129K75th
- $173K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,740 | $8,062 | $46.51 |
| Median | $85,310 | $7,109 | $41.01 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,180 | $5,098 | $29.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,790 | $10,732 | $61.92 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($92,260) and 6% more than the U.S. average ($91,680). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $82,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $96,740 | $85,310 | $46,540 | $172,980 | 990 |
| Illinois | $92,260 | $81,590 | $46,540 | $153,150 | 1,550 |
| United States | $91,680 | $82,220 | $52,520 | $140,010 | 89,250 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $96,740, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $72,239 a year, or $6,020 a month and $2,778 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 | $74,014 | $6,168 |
| Working in IL | $72,239 | $6,020 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for environmental scientists and specialists, including health? 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 $96,740 buys what about $93,383 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 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$96,740
- Springfield$95,790
- Champaign$68,710
All Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for environmental scientists and specialists, including health
New Haven, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($129,850).
- New Haven, CT$129,850
- San Francisco, CA$127,420
- San Jose, CA$124,260
- Kennewick, WA$123,690
- Washington, DC$118,040
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by city
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Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary in Chicago: questions
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including health make an hour in Chicago?
$46.51 an hour on average, and $41.01 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,540 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental scientists and specialists, including health take-home pay in Chicago?
About $72,239 a year ($6,020 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,740.
Do environmental scientists and specialists, including health earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% more than the U.S. average for this job ($91,680).
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 19-2041; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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