Life Scientists, All Other salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Life Scientists, All Other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $70,690 a year ($33.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,920 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $93,750. Pay here is 7% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $66,190. There are 0.02 life scientists, all other per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.49). The average (mean) salary is $71,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for life scientists, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,270 | $27.53 |
| 25th percentile | $57,270 | $27.53 |
| Median | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| 75th percentile | $70,690 | $33.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,920 | $37.46 |
| Average (mean) | $71,050 | $34.16 |
Half of life scientists, all other 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 | $5,890.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,945.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,718.85 |
| Weekly | $1,359.42 |
| Hourly | $33.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $70,690 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Life Scientists, All Other salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $75,300 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for life scientists, all other
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| South Carolina | $169,440 |
| District of Columbia | $167,640 |
| Massachusetts | $125,260 |
| Arizona | $122,580 |
| Oregon | $113,450 |
| Alabama | $110,560 |
| Maryland | $109,700 |
| Tennessee | $108,770 |
| New Jersey | $103,890 |
| California | $102,830 |
See Life Scientists, All Other 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 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $100,390 | $48.27 |
| 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 |
| 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 19-1099. 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 life scientists, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for life scientists, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $70,690 a year, or $33.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $77,920 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid life scientists, all other make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of life scientists, all other in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $77,920 a year. The top 25% earn $70,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for life scientists, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,270 a year, and a quarter of life scientists, all other earn $57,270 or less.
How many life scientists, all other work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 110 life scientists, all other are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.