Political Scientists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,020 a year or less, while the top 10% make $143,110 or more. The middle half of political scientists in Chicago earn between $85,570 and $103,780.
- $85K10th
- $86K25th
- $104KMedian
- $104K75th
- $143K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,230 | $8,769 | $50.59 |
| Median | $103,780 | $8,648 | $49.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,570 | $7,131 | $41.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $103,780 | $8,648 | $49.89 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Political Scientists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $105,230, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $77,791 a year, or $6,483 a month and $2,992 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% 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 | $79,732 | $6,644 |
| Working in IL | $77,791 | $6,483 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for political 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 $105,230 buys what about $101,578 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Political Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
- Detroit, MI$89,470
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Boston, MA$135,740
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Seattle, WA$146,970
Highest-paying cities for political scientists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,310).
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Seattle, WA$146,970
- Boston, MA$135,740
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
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Political Scientists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do political scientists make an hour in Chicago?
$50.59 an hour on average, and $49.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level political scientists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $85,020 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the political scientists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $77,791 a year ($6,483 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,230.
Do political scientists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($153,194).
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 19-3094; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.55, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.55).
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