SOC 29-1222 · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro

Physicians, Pathologists Salary in Chicago, IL

The average salary for physicians, pathologists in Chicago, Illinois is $339,170 a year ($163.06 an hour), according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $336,660: half of the people in this job in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 15% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($295,427).

$339,170average per year

$163.06 / hourMedian $336,660Take-home ≈ $223,069

  • $193K10th
  • $264K25th
  • $337KMedian
  • $382K75th
  • $547K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

n/apeople in this job
+15%vs U.S. metro average
104cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Physicians, Pathologists pay range in Chicago

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $193,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $546,710 or more. The middle half of physicians, pathologists in Chicago earn between $264,170 and $381,850.

  • $193K10th
  • $264K25th
  • $337KMedian
  • $382K75th
  • $547K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$339,170$28,264$163.06
Median$336,660$28,055$161.86
Entry level (25th percentile)$264,170$22,014$127.00
Experienced (75th percentile)$381,850$31,821$183.58

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.

Physicians, Pathologists salary after taxes in Chicago

On the average salary of $339,170, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $223,069 a year, or $18,589 a month and $8,580 every two weeks. Taxes take 34% 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:

StatePer yearPer month
Working in IN$229,572$19,131
Working in IL$223,069$18,589

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).

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Is Chicago a good place for physicians, pathologists? 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 $339,170 buys what about $327,400 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 6.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 1.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $339,170 is worth in another city

Physicians, Pathologists salary in nearby metro areas

Highest-paying cities for physicians, pathologists

Tampa, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($345,500).

Physicians, Pathologists salary by city

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Physicians, Pathologists salary in Chicago: questions

How much do physicians, pathologists make an hour in Chicago?

$163.06 an hour on average, and $161.86 at the median (BLS, May 2025).

What is the entry-level physicians, pathologists salary in Chicago?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $193,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $264,170, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the physicians, pathologists take-home pay in Chicago?

About $223,069 a year ($18,589 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $339,170.

Do physicians, pathologists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?

The average here is 15% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($295,427).

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 29-1222; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 22.0%.
  • 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).

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