Physical Scientists, All Other pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $170,710 or more. The middle half of other physical scientists in Chicago earn between $97,900 and $153,150.
- $68K10th
- $98K25th
- $122KMedian
- $153K75th
- $171K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $121,590 | $10,132 | $58.46 |
| Median | $121,720 | $10,143 | $58.52 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $97,900 | $8,158 | $47.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $153,150 | $12,762 | $73.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $121,590, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $88,491 a year, or $7,374 a month and $3,403 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 | $90,751 | $7,563 |
| Working in IL | $88,491 | $7,374 |
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 physical 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 $121,590 buys what about $117,371 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 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.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary in nearby metro areas
- Madison, WI$102,540
- Indianapolis, IN$73,510
- Dayton, OH$140,240
- Cincinnati, OH$123,710
- Columbus, OH$82,630
- Lexington, KY$75,610
Highest-paying cities for other physical scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($177,370).
- San Jose, CA$177,370
- Minneapolis, MN$172,740
- Washington, DC$166,920
- Palm Bay, FL$158,750
- Huntsville, AL$154,990
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Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago: questions
How much do other physical scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$58.46 an hour on average, and $58.52 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other physical scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $68,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $97,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other physical scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $88,491 a year ($7,374 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $121,590.
Do other physical scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($133,915).
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 19-2099; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- 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 0.66, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.66).
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