Materials Scientist Salary in Chicago, IL
Materials Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $133,340 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $95,948 take-home, or $7,996 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median materials scientist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,736
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,267
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,933
- Illinois income tax$6,456
- Take-home pay$95,948
Marginal rate: 24% 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.
Materials Scientist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,240 | $44.83 | $69,954 | $5,829 |
| 25th percentile | $104,350 | $50.17 | $77,220 | $6,435 |
| Median (50th) | $133,340 | $64.11 | $95,948 | $7,996 |
| 75th percentile | $174,110 | $83.71 | $121,797 | $10,150 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $197,910 | $95.15 | $137,717 | $11,476 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,340 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 materials scientist's $95,948 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,619 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chicago, IL has 1.9× the national concentration of materials scientist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for materials scientists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 3 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago, IL | $133,340 | $95,948 | $92,619 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $132,600 | $95,488 | $88,198 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $120,650 | $87,629 | $77,849 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 3 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a materials scientist make in Chicago, IL?
The median materials scientist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $133,340 a year, or about $64.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $104,350 and $174,110.
What is a materials scientist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $133,340 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $95,948 a year ($7,996 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,456 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a materials scientist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $117,790. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,619 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #1 of 3 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a materials 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) — 19% of a median materials scientist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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