Biological Scientists, All Other Salary in Chicago, IL
Biological Scientists, All Other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $85,680 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $65,010 take-home, or $5,417 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median biological scientists, all other salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$10,020
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,312
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,242
- Illinois income tax$4,096
- Take-home pay$65,010
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.
Biological Scientists, All Other pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,090 | $28.89 | $47,633 | $3,969 |
| 25th percentile | $64,840 | $31.17 | $51,214 | $4,268 |
| Median (50th) | $85,680 | $41.19 | $65,010 | $5,417 |
| 75th percentile | $106,880 | $51.38 | $78,874 | $6,573 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $131,340 | $63.14 | $94,680 | $7,890 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $85,680 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 biological scientists, all other's $65,010 take-home pay has the buying power of $62,754 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Biological Scientists, All Other jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.48), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for biological scientists, all other, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 22 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $133,790 | $92,759 | $84,004 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $138,160 | $95,283 | $82,415 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $111,530 | $82,345 | $78,809 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $102,400 | $77,291 | $78,743 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, PA | $106,670 | $80,598 | $78,590 |
| 6 | Durham, NC | $98,700 | $74,836 | $76,698 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $108,580 | $85,216 | $76,679 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $114,920 | $82,877 | $76,115 |
| 18 | Chicago, IL | $85,680 | $65,010 | $62,754 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 22 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a biological scientists, all other make in Chicago, IL?
The median biological scientists, all other salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $85,680 a year, or about $41.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,840 and $106,880.
What is a biological scientists, all other’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $85,680 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $65,010 a year ($5,417 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,096 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a biological scientists, all other?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $98,920. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $62,754 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #18 of 22 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a biological scientists, all other 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) — 28% of a median biological scientists, all other’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
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- Nuclear Technician — $99,990
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