How much does a Scientist make in Chicago, IL?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Scientist in Chicago, IL is $140,963. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $130,381 to $163,442, with most professionals earning between $120,747 and $183,908.

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What is a Scientist?

A Scientist is someone who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of interest. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern Scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophical study of nature called natural philosophy, a precursor of natural science. It was not until the 19th century that the term Scientist came into regular use after it was coined by the theologian, philosopher, and historian of science William Whewell in 1833, to describe the noted polymath Mary Somerville. In modern times, many scientists have advanced degrees in an ...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 09/06/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Scientist.

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How much should you be earning in Scientist in Chicago, IL based on your current experience?
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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE

Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.
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LEVEL OF EDUCATION

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Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
130381
163442
140963

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
133794
167814
146809
What is the average salary for Scientist in 2025?
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Scientist in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Scientist ranges from $130,381 to $163,442 with the average base salary of $140,963. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $133,794 to $167,814 with the average total cash compensation of $146,809.
Average Salary Average Salary Range
Base Salary $140,963 $130,381 - $163,442
Bonus $5,846 $3,413 - $4,372
Total Pay $146,809 $133,794 - $167,814
* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.
* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.
CITY, STATE AVERAGE SALARY RANGE COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Cicero, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $131,114 - $164,361 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Oak Park, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $131,114 - $164,361 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Oak Lawn, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $130,965 - $164,174 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Evanston, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $131,065 - $164,299 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Skokie, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $131,065 - $164,299 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
CITY, STATE Arlington Heights, IL AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $128,130 - $160,620 COMPARE TO Chicago, IL
See salaries for Scientist in locations close to Chicago, IL. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.
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JOB TITLE LOCATION MINIMUM SALARY MAXIMUM SALARY
JOB TITLE Soil Scientist LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $66,867 MAXIMUM SALARY $103,424
JOB TITLE Associate Scientist, Scientist LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $130,381 MAXIMUM SALARY $163,442
JOB TITLE Animal Scientist I LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $53,414 MAXIMUM SALARY $67,193
JOB TITLE Plant Scientist LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $65,801 MAXIMUM SALARY $98,301
JOB TITLE Biophysics Scientist LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $71,601 MAXIMUM SALARY $91,101
JOB TITLE Weather Scientist LOCATION Chicago, IL MINIMUM SALARY $90,900 MAXIMUM SALARY $146,100
The Scientist job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Chicago, IL that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.

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130381
163442

 

About Chicago, Illinois    Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third mos....More

Chicago, Illinois  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Scientist Salary in popular cities: AuroraRockfordJoliet

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