Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary in Chicago, IL
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $83,240 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $63,414 take-home, or $5,284 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,483
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,161
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,207
- Illinois income tax$3,976
- Take-home pay$63,414
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,500 | $31.01 | $50,958 | $4,246 |
| 25th percentile | $65,660 | $31.57 | $51,832 | $4,319 |
| Median (50th) | $83,240 | $40.02 | $63,414 | $5,284 |
| 75th percentile | $104,700 | $50.34 | $77,449 | $6,454 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,510 | $69.00 | $102,396 | $8,533 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $83,240 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical scientists, except epidemiologists's $63,414 take-home pay has the buying power of $61,213 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.76), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for medical scientists, except epidemiologists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #14 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $160,180 | $108,000 | $93,415 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $129,500 | $93,524 | $86,384 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $134,890 | $93,395 | $82,238 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $103,410 | $77,656 | $81,668 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $130,980 | $91,137 | $81,454 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,950 | $78,095 | $76,150 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $83,000 | $74,685 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,940 | $75,772 | $72,286 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $83,240 | $63,414 | $61,213 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
About the job: medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities. Practitioners who primarily provide medical or dental care or dispense drugs are included in "Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners" (29-1000).
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.6% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Chicago, IL?
The median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,240 a year, or about $40.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $65,660 and $104,700.
What is a medical scientists, except epidemiologists’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $83,240 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $63,414 a year ($5,284 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,976 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $103,410. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $61,213 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #14 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologists afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 29% of a median medical scientists, except epidemiologists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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