Paycheck Atlas

Materials Scientists salary in Chicago, IL

The median materials scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN earns $133,340 a year, 13% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $7,984 a month.

10th percentile
$93,240
25th percentile
$104,350
Median percentile
$133,340
75th percentile
$174,110
90th percentile
$197,910

Based on 460 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$95,804 take-home a year
Gross pay$133,340
Federal income tax−$20,736
Social Security + Medicare−$10,201
Illinois income tax (approx.)−$6,600
Monthly take-home$7,984
Every two weeks$3,685

Does it go far here?

$128,713Median pay in Chicago, IL is worth this at average US prices (local price level 103.6 vs 100).
18%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($1,430 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in Chicago, IL

JobMedian pay
Chief Executives$344,960
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$293,490
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$284,630
Nurse Anesthetists$265,880
Psychiatrists$258,750
Emergency Medicine Physicians$239,200
General Internal Medicine Physicians$226,060
Family Medicine Physicians$225,080

All materials scientists salaries · Take-home pay in Illinois