Political Scientist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Political Scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $103,780 a year ($49.89 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,110 for the top 10%. That is 27% lower than the national median of $142,080. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $103,780. There are 0.02 political scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $105,230, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for political scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,020 | $40.87 |
| 25th percentile | $85,570 | $41.14 |
| Median | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| 75th percentile | $103,780 | $49.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $143,110 | $68.81 |
| Average (mean) | $105,230 | $50.59 |
Half of political scientists 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 | $8,648.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,324.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,991.54 |
| Weekly | $1,995.77 |
| Hourly | $49.89 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $103,780 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for political scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $153,380 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 |
| Washington | $147,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 |
| Colorado | $127,260 |
| Oregon | $119,460 |
| Ohio | $119,370 |
| Texas | $114,050 |
| Arizona | $108,770 |
See Political Scientist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| School Psychologist | $90,620 | $43.57 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $98,840 | $47.52 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $104,550 | $50.26 |
| Survey Researcher | $54,080 | $26.00 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $59,560 | $28.63 |
| Historian | $89,670 | $43.11 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $83,240 | $40.02 |
| Chemist | $90,920 | $43.71 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,630 | $48.86 |
| Physicist | $137,140 | $65.93 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $62,670 | $30.13 |
| Microbiologist | $100,620 | $48.38 |
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 19-3094. 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 political scientist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for political scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $103,780 a year, or $49.89 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $143,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid political scientists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of political scientists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $143,110 a year. The top 25% earn $103,780 or more.
What is the starting pay for political scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,020 a year, and a quarter of political scientists earn $85,570 or less.
How many political scientists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 90 political scientists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.