Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $83,240 a year ($40.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,810 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,510 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $103,410. Pay here is 1% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $82,330. There are 0.84 medical scientists, except epidemiologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.76). The average (mean) salary is $94,240, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 25th percentile | $65,660 | $31.57 |
| Median | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| 75th percentile | $104,700 | $50.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,510 | $69.00 |
| Average (mean) | $94,240 | $45.31 |
Half of medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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 | $6,936.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,468.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,201.54 |
| Weekly | $1,600.77 |
| Hourly | $40.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $83,240 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $103,410 | 2,560 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $96,190 | 1,820 |
| Bloomington, IN | $94,350 | 50 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $85,030 | 60 |
| Springfield, IL | $82,160 | 60 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $82,060 | 140 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $79,310 | 920 |
| Evansville, IN | $78,090 | 50 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $76,730 | 280 |
| Peoria, IL | $76,420 | 60 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $69,410 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for medical scientists, except epidemiologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $136,990 |
| New Jersey | $129,280 |
| Massachusetts | $128,210 |
| Connecticut | $116,990 |
| Arizona | $116,820 |
| Oregon | $111,030 |
| Maryland | $106,000 |
| Washington | $105,680 |
| Alaska | $104,930 |
| Rhode Island | $103,370 |
See Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 19-1042. 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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $83,240 a year, or $40.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,500 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of medical scientists, except epidemiologists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $143,510 a year. The top 25% earn $104,700 or more.
What is the starting pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,500 a year, and a quarter of medical scientists, except epidemiologists earn $65,660 or less.
How many medical scientists, except epidemiologists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 3,810 medical scientists, except epidemiologists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.