Physicist Salary in Chicago, IL
Physicists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $137,140 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $98,358 take-home, or $8,196 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$21,648
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,503
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,989
- Illinois income tax$6,644
- Take-home pay$98,358
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.
Physicist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,830 | $39.34 | $62,492 | $5,208 |
| 25th percentile | $82,110 | $39.48 | $62,675 | $5,223 |
| Median (50th) | $137,140 | $65.93 | $98,358 | $8,196 |
| 75th percentile | $175,510 | $84.38 | $122,684 | $10,224 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $221,380 | $106.43 | $153,579 | $12,798 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $137,140 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 physicist's $98,358 take-home pay has the buying power of $94,944 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 2.5× the national concentration of physicist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for physicists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $181,970 | $125,947 | $111,890 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $171,580 | $116,925 | $107,385 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $173,450 | $115,663 | $104,745 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $160,270 | $108,052 | $95,144 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $137,140 | $98,358 | $94,944 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $104,580 | $78,509 | $74,627 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $106,000 | $78,321 | $72,341 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in Chicago, IL?
The median physicist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $137,140 a year, or about $65.93 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,110 and $175,510.
What is a physicist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $137,140 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $98,358 a year ($8,196 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,644 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a physicist?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $172,250. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $94,944 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physicist 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 physicist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Materials Scientist — $133,340
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $104,550
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $101,630
- Microbiologist — $100,620
- Food Scientist and Technologist — $100,390
- Nuclear Technician — $99,990
- Urban and Regional Planner — $98,840
- Chemist — $90,920
- School Psychologist — $90,620
- Biological Scientists, All Other — $85,680
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $85,390
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $85,310