Biochemists and Biophysicists Salary
In Illinois, biochemists and biophysicists earn $87,010 at the median, or about $41.83 an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $173K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $92,712 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,407/month, or 25.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $87K actually covers in Illinois, month by month
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What this looks like in Illinois
Pay for biochemists and biophysicists in Illinois runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $127K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level biochemists and biophysicists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $87K. Top earners bring in $173K or more, a $113K spread from bottom to top.
Biochemists and Biophysicists salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $86K | -1% | 170 |
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a biochemists and biophysicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
Yes — at the median salary of $87K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for biochemists and biophysicists in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new biochemists and biophysicists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,944/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is biochemists and biophysicist a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $87K here vs. $127K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for biochemists and biophysicists?
Illinois pays $87K median vs. the U.S. average of $127K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do biochemists and biophysicists make in Illinois?
The median is $87,010 a year, that works out to about $42 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,060, and experienced biochemists and biophysicists can clear $173,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $87K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,441/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a biochemists and biophysicists salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median biochemists and biophysicists salary is worth about $92,712 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do biochemists and biophysicists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.