Data Scientist Salary in Chicago, IL
Data Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $107,640 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $79,371 take-home, or $6,614 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median data scientist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,851
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,674
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,561
- Illinois income tax$5,183
- Take-home pay$79,371
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.
Data Scientist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,740 | $34.01 | $55,239 | $4,603 |
| 25th percentile | $84,600 | $40.67 | $64,303 | $5,359 |
| Median (50th) | $107,640 | $51.75 | $79,371 | $6,614 |
| 75th percentile | $138,210 | $66.45 | $99,036 | $8,253 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,880 | $81.19 | $118,481 | $9,873 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $107,640 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 data scientist's $79,371 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,617 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Data Scientist jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for data scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #56 of 72 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $164,740 | $123,866 | $111,457 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $185,080 | $122,415 | $110,860 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $127,360 | $98,317 | $100,256 |
| 4 | Charlotte, NC | $132,460 | $97,026 | $99,669 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $170,110 | $113,734 | $98,375 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $127,750 | $98,583 | $95,628 |
| 7 | Jacksonville, FL | $122,680 | $95,118 | $95,611 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $141,760 | $101,803 | $95,264 |
| 56 | Chicago, IL | $107,640 | $79,371 | $76,617 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 72 metros →
Data Scientist salaries elsewhere in Illinois
- Bloomington, IL — $120,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Chicago, IL?
The median data scientist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $107,640 a year, or about $51.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,600 and $138,210.
What is a data scientist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $107,640 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $79,371 a year ($6,614 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,183 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a data scientist?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $120,230. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,617 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #56 of 72 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a data scientist 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) — 23% of a median data scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Database Architect — $147,490
- Computer Network Architect — $143,800
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $135,630
- Software Developer — $134,380
- Information Security Analyst — $125,310
- Actuary — $113,730
- Database Administrator — $109,680
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $105,580
- Computer Systems Analyst — $103,490
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $103,170
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $101,660
- Computer Programmer — $99,750