Microbiologists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $134,050 or more. The middle half of microbiologists in Chicago earn between $66,810 and $120,520.
- $60K10th
- $67K25th
- $101KMedian
- $121K75th
- $134K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,550 | $7,962 | $45.94 |
| Median | $100,620 | $8,385 | $48.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,810 | $5,568 | $32.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $120,520 | $10,043 | $57.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Microbiologists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $95,550, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $71,461 a year, or $5,955 a month and $2,748 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 | $73,213 | $6,101 |
| Working in IL | $71,461 | $5,955 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for microbiologists? 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 $95,550 buys what about $92,234 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 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.
Microbiologists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 2nd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Peoria pays the most ($103,130).
Highest-paying cities for microbiologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($135,860).
- San Francisco, CA$135,860
- Santa Rosa, CA$126,450
- Vallejo, CA$125,010
- San Jose, CA$124,300
- Athens, GA$123,910
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Microbiologists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do microbiologists make an hour in Chicago?
$45.94 an hour on average, and $48.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level microbiologists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the microbiologists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $71,461 a year ($5,955 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,550.
Do microbiologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($101,104).
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 19-1022; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
- 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 2.26, this job is 2.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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