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.
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 →
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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