Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $177,670 or more. The middle half of geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) in Chicago earn between $80,800 and $177,670.
- $65K10th
- $81K25th
- $114KMedian
- $178K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,130 | $10,178 | $58.72 |
| Median | $114,030 | $9,502 | $54.82 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,800 | $6,733 | $38.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $177,670 | $14,806 | $85.42 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $122,130, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $88,838 a year, or $7,403 a month and $3,417 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% 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 | $91,108 | $7,592 |
| Working in IL | $88,838 | $7,403 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers)? 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 $122,130 buys what about $117,892 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 2 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$122,130
- Springfield$88,700
All Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salaries in Illinois
Highest-paying cities for geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers)
Midland, TX pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($192,880).
- Midland, TX$192,880
- Houston, TX$179,730
- Lubbock, TX$157,570
- Palm Bay, FL$146,810
- Dallas, TX$146,630
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary by city
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Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers salary in Chicago: questions
How much do geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) make an hour in Chicago?
$58.72 an hour on average, and $54.82 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) take-home pay in Chicago?
About $88,838 a year ($7,403 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,130.
Do geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($121,351).
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 19-2042; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.2%.
- 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 0.32, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.32).
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