Computer and Information Research Scientists Salary
Computer and Information Research Scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN make a median of $135,630 a year, or about $65.21 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $243K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $130,930 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,781/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $136K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About computer and information research scientists
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Computer and information research scientists pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $136K locally vs. $140K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,781/month, 22.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for computer and information research scientists in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Champaign-Urbana | $95K | $102K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $87K | $91K |
| Kansas City | $105K | $113K |
| St. Louis | $143K | $150K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level computer and information research scientists (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $243K or more, a $194K spread from bottom to top.
Computer and Information Research Scientists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Computer and Information Research Scientists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | $206K | +47% | 730 |
| Washington | $202K | +44% | 2,050 |
| New York | $182K | +30% | 1,950 |
| Massachusetts | $171K | +22% | 1,760 |
| New Mexico | $166K | +18% | 490 |
| California | $159K | +13% | 8,440 |
| Virginia | $157K | +12% | 3,590 |
| Maryland | $145K | +4% | 2,870 |
| District of Columbia | $144K | +3% | 330 |
| New Jersey | $141K | +0% | 1,580 |
| Illinois | $137K | -3% | 630 |
| New Hampshire | $136K | -3% | 90 |
| Minnesota | $136K | -3% | 30 |
| Ohio | $136K | -3% | 280 |
| Hawaii | $134K | -4% | 70 |
| Nevada | $134K | -4% | 80 |
| Colorado | $133K | -5% | 400 |
| Connecticut | $132K | -6% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | -7% | 330 |
| Arizona | $130K | -8% | 360 |
| North Carolina | $128K | -9% | 600 |
| Missouri | $128K | -9% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $127K | -9% | 430 |
| Rhode Island | $121K | -13% | 500 |
| Texas | $121K | -14% | 1,960 |
| Florida | $120K | -15% | 1,070 |
| Alabama | $118K | -16% | 570 |
| Louisiana | $115K | -18% | 140 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -22% | 300 |
| Tennessee | $109K | -22% | N/A |
| Utah | $95K | -33% | 1,250 |
| Oklahoma | $93K | -34% | 590 |
| Georgia | $92K | -34% | 810 |
| Indiana | $85K | -39% | 720 |
| Michigan | $83K | -41% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track computer and information research scientists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a computer and information research scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Yes — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 22.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for computer and information research scientists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new computer and information research scientists typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,951/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is computer and information research scientist a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $136K locally vs. $140K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for computer and information research scientists?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $140K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — below the national median.
How much do computer and information research scientists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $135,630 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,190, and experienced computer and information research scientists can clear $243,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,062/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 22.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a computer and information research scientists salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median computer and information research scientists salary is worth about $130,930 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do computer and information research scientists 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.