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

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

Median annual salary $122,950 +4.2% vs national
Median hourly $59.11
10th percentile $64,920
90th percentile $171,420
Employed locally 410
National median $117,960

Compare Physical Scientists, All Other salary & buying power

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Physical Scientists, All Other
in
Chicago, IL-IN
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $64,920
    25th
    $97,070
    50th (median)
    $122,950
    75th
    $150,070
    90th
    $171,420

    Chicago economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $88,850 2023 • Census ACS
    Physical Scientists, All Other salary vs area income 138% Median Physical Scientists, All Other salary is 38% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physical Scientists, All Other

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $174,810
    Providence-Warwick, RI-MA $170,960
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $168,870
    Minnesota $167,110
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $162,610
    District of Columbia $157,980

    Nearby metros — Physical Scientists, All Other salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $155,080
    Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $142,810
    Huntsville, AL $139,800
    Charlottesville, VA $133,540
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $132,750
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $128,380

    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 Physical Scientists, All Other make per hour in Chicago?

    The median hourly wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Chicago, IL-IN is $59.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $82.07 or more per hour.

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

    The median Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago, IL-IN is 4.2% above the national median of $117,960. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

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

    Entry-level Physical Scientists, All Other (10th percentile) earn around $64,920 per year in Chicago, IL-IN. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $97,070.