Life Scientists, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,920 or more. The middle half of other life scientists in Chicago earn between $57,270 and $70,690.
- $57K10th
- $57K25th
- $71KMedian
- $71K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,050 | $5,921 | $34.16 |
| Median | $70,690 | $5,891 | $33.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,270 | $4,772 | $27.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $70,690 | $5,891 | $33.99 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Life Scientists, All Other pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Other life scientists in Chicago earn 5% more than the Illinois average ($67,660) and 34% less than the U.S. average ($107,860). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $93,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $71,050 | $70,690 | $57,270 | $77,920 | 110 |
| Illinois | $67,660 | $66,190 | $52,790 | $75,460 | 160 |
| United States | $107,860 | $93,750 | $58,670 | $186,260 | 7,460 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Life Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $71,050, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $55,438 a year, or $4,620 a month and $2,132 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 | $56,712 | $4,726 |
| Working in IL | $55,438 | $4,620 |
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 life 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 $71,050 buys what about $68,584 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- St. Louis, MO$91,100
- Minneapolis, MN$67,490
- Pittsburgh, PA$87,030
- Harrisburg, PA$80,710
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Atlanta, GA$80,310
Highest-paying cities for other life scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($152,410).
- San Jose, CA$152,410
- San Francisco, CA$139,970
- Washington, DC$139,090
- Phoenix, AZ$135,570
- Charlotte, NC$126,790
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Life Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other life scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$34.16 an hour on average, and $33.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other life scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,270, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other life scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $55,438 a year ($4,620 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,050.
Do other life scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 34% less than the U.S. average for this job ($107,860).
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 19-1099; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.6%.
- 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 0.49, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.49).
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