Food Scientists and Technologists salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Food Scientists and Technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $100,390 a year ($48.27 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,750 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $88,720. Pay here is 6% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $94,340. There are 0.14 food scientists and technologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $108,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for food scientists and technologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,810 | $31.64 |
| 25th percentile | $76,970 | $37.00 |
| Median | $100,390 | $48.27 |
| 75th percentile | $130,910 | $62.94 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,750 | $83.54 |
| Average (mean) | $108,070 | $51.96 |
Half of food scientists and technologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,861.15 |
| Weekly | $1,930.58 |
| Hourly | $48.27 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $100,390 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Food Scientists and Technologists salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $108,200 | 270 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $90,210 | 130 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $74,150 | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $69,970 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for food scientists and technologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $108,660 |
| Missouri | $105,930 |
| New Jersey | $104,340 |
| Massachusetts | $103,580 |
| Florida | $101,160 |
| Colorado | $99,580 |
| Minnesota | $99,280 |
| Kentucky | $98,710 |
| Alabama | $97,480 |
| Washington | $94,990 |
See Food Scientists and Technologists pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $85,680 | $41.19 |
| Conservation Scientist | $62,710 | $30.15 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $80,360 | $38.64 |
| Epidemiologist | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $79,780 | $38.36 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $85,780 | $41.24 |
| Forester | $85,610 | $41.16 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food scientists and technologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for food scientists and technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,390 a year, or $48.27 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,810 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,750 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid food scientists and technologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of food scientists and technologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $173,750 a year. The top 25% earn $130,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for food scientists and technologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,810 a year, and a quarter of food scientists and technologists earn $76,970 or less.
How many food scientists and technologists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 610 food scientists and technologists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.