Life Scientists, All Other Salary in Chicago, IL-IN

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

Median annual salary $59,920 -31.8% vs national
Median hourly $28.81
10th percentile $54,170
90th percentile $80,030
Employed locally 120
National median $87,800

Compare Life Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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Life Scientists, All Other
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Chicago, IL-IN
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $54,170
    25th
    $54,170
    50th (median)
    $59,920
    75th
    $72,400
    90th
    $80,030

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Life Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 67% Median Life Scientists, All Other salary is 33% below the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Life Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $175,330
    District of Columbia $164,260
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,810
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $132,500
    Raleigh-Cary, NC $131,110
    Massachusetts $129,210

    Nearby metros — Life Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $109,540
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $105,090
    Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $77,900
    St. Louis, MO-IL $75,300
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $72,800
    Illinois $54,170

    Related occupations in Chicago, IL-IN

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$78,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$98,240
    Chemists$100,720
    School Psychologists$80,600
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$98,780
    Physicists$131,260

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Life Scientists, All Other make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Life Scientists, All Other in Chicago, IL-IN is $28.81, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $37.46 or more per hour.

    Is Chicago above or below average for Life Scientists, All Other salaries?

    The median Life Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 31.8% below the national median of $87,800. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Life Scientists, All Other in Chicago?

    Entry-level Life Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $54,170 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $54,170.