Paycheck Atlas

Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago, IL

The median physical scientists, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN earns $121,720 a year, about the same as the US median. After tax that is roughly $7,370 a month.

10th percentile
$68,310
25th percentile
$97,900
Median percentile
$121,720
75th percentile
$153,150
90th percentile
$170,710

Based on 430 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

$88,435 take-home a year
Gross pay$121,720
Federal income tax−$17,948
Social Security + Medicare−$9,312
Illinois income tax (approx.)−$6,025
Monthly take-home$7,370
Every two weeks$3,401

Does it go far here?

$117,496Median pay in Chicago, IL is worth this at average US prices (local price level 103.6 vs 100).
19%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 physical scientists, all other salaries · Take-home pay in Illinois